Adaptable QR codes to launch customized experiences

ABSTRACT

Systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatus, and/or computer program products that can facilitate adaptable QR codes to launch customized experiences are provided. In various embodiments, a system can receive, from a client device, a quick response (QR) code, a client identifier, and location data associated with the client device. In various aspects, the system can identify, from a plurality of merchants, a first merchant that corresponds to the QR code, based on identifying that the first merchant corresponds to the location data. In various instances, the system can identify, from a plurality of client profiles, a first client profile that corresponds to the client identifier. In various cases, the system can identify a digital content based on the first merchant and the first client profile. In various aspects, the system can cause the digital content to be provided to the client device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/335,736, filed Jun. 1, 2021, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure relates generally to quick response (QR) codes,and more specifically to computing devices that can facilitate adaptableQR codes to launch customized experiences.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, a client device can scan a quick response (QR) code thatis displayed on a merchant signage. Based on such scanning, the clientdevice can be provided with digital content that corresponds to the QRcode. Because such digital content is based only upon the QR code, suchdigital content is uniform across different client devices and thusacross different customers. Additionally, because such digital contentis based only upon the QR code, there is no reason for the client deviceto scan the QR code again in the future. In other words, implementationof conventional techniques results in un-customizable digital contentand causes merchant signages to have reduced half-lives.

Systems and/or techniques that can ameliorate one or more of theseissues are desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system that facilitates adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a QR code, a client identifier, and alocation indicator that facilitates adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a merchant repository that facilitatesadaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting merchant repository in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a client profile repository thatfacilitates adaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting client profile repository in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a digital content that facilitatesadaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates adaptable QR codes forcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate communication diagrams of example, non-limitingworkflows that facilitate adaptable QR codes for customized experiencesin accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method including checking an activation status of aQR code in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a fraud component that facilitates fraudprevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including sound data and a sound signature thatfacilitates fraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launchcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates sound-based fraudprevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 15 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a timestamp and a time frame thatfacilitates fraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launchcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates time-based fraud preventionfor adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 17 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a surrounding environment and a knownsurrounding environment that facilitates fraud prevention for adaptableQR codes that launch customized experiences in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 18 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates surrounding-based fraudprevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 19 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system including a social media account and additionalclient devices that facilitates adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences with connected users in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

FIG. 20 illustrates a high-level block diagram showing how a socialmedia account can be used to identify additional client devices inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method that facilitates adaptable QR codes forcustomized experiences with connected users in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 22 illustrates a communication diagram of an example, non-limitingworkflow that facilitates adaptable QR codes for customized experienceswith connected users in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIGS. 23-24 illustrate flow diagrams of example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented methods that facilitate adaptable QR codes forcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

FIG. 25 illustrates a block diagram of an example, non-limitingoperating environment in which one or more embodiments described hereincan be facilitated.

FIG. 26 illustrates an example networking environment operable toexecute various implementations described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is notintended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied information presented in the preceding Background section, or inthe Detailed Description section.

One or more embodiments are now described with reference to thedrawings, wherein like referenced numerals are used to refer to likeelements throughout. In the following description, for purposes ofexplanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea more thorough understanding of the one or more embodiments. It isevident, however, in various cases, that the one or more embodiments canbe practiced without these specific details.

As mentioned above, when conventional techniques are implemented, aclient device (e.g., a smart phone) can scan (e.g., via a camera of thesmart phone) a QR code that is displayed on a merchant signage (e.g.,that is printed in ink on an in-store paper sign, and/or that iselectronically rendered on an in-store computer screen). Based on suchscanning, the client device can be provided with digital content (e.g.,advertisements, rewards) that corresponds to the QR code. For example, aQR code can be presented on a poster that is on display in a grocerystore, and a customer who is shopping in the grocery store can scan theQR code with their smart phone. Such scanning can cause the smart phoneto be provided with promotions and/or discounts associated with thegrocery store. For instance, the smart phone can be provided with a10%-off promo code that is redeemable at the grocery store.

Because the digital content is conventionally based only upon the QRcode, the digital content is uniform across different client devices andthus across different customers. That is, the digital content is notbased upon characteristics unique to any given customer, and thus is notconventionally customizable. Consider again the above example in which aQR code is displayed in a grocery store. Suppose that scanning the QRcode yields a 5%-off promo code that is redeemable at the grocery store.Moreover, suppose that a customer A, who has never shopped at thegrocery store, scans the QR code, thereby earning a 5%-off promo code.Furthermore, suppose that a customer B, who has regularly shopped at thegrocery store for the past several years, scans the QR code, therebyalso earning a 5%-off promo code. In such case, both the customer A andthe customer B receive the same digital content (e.g., the 5%-off promocode), notwithstanding that the customer A and the customer B havesignificantly different transaction histories with the grocery store. Asanother example, suppose that scanning the QR code in the grocery storeyields a 15%-off promo code that is redeemable for banana purchases atthe grocery store. Furthermore, suppose that a customer C, who lovesbananas, scans the QR code, thereby earning the 15%-off banana promocode. Further still, suppose that a customer D, who loathes bananas,scans the QR code, thereby also earning the 15%-off banana promo code.In such case, both the customer C and the customer D receive the samedigital content (e.g., the 15%-off banana promo code), notwithstandingthat the customer C and the customer D have significantly differentbanana preferences.

Additionally, because such digital content is conventionally based onlyupon the QR code, there is no reason for the client device to scan theQR code again in the future. That is, a customer who has already scanneda QR code, and thus who has already gotten the digital contentassociated with the QR code, would only receive duplicative and/orredundant copies of the digital content. Consider again the aboveexample in which a QR code is displayed in a grocery store. Suppose thatscanning of the QR code yields a 10%-off promo code that is redeemableat the grocery store. So, a customer who has scanned the QR code, andthus who has already received the 10%-off promo code, has no need tore-scan that particular QR code. Indeed, if the customer does rescanthat particular QR code, the customer would simply receive a copy of thesame 10%-off promo code. Because such promo codes usually cannot beredeemed more than once by a given customer, such copy of the same10%-off promo code would be of no value to the customer. Therefore, thecustomer has no incentive to rescan that particular QR code. To avoidproviding duplicative and/or redundant digital content to customers, themerchant signage that displays the QR code is routinely replaced with adifferent merchant signage that displays a different QR code (e.g., thedifferent QR code can correspond to different digital content). However,this causes each iteration of merchant signage to have a reduced and/orshortened useful life.

Various embodiments of the subject innovation can address one or more ofthese technical problems. One or more embodiments described hereininclude systems, computer-implemented methods, apparatus, and/orcomputer-program products that can facilitate adaptable QR codes forcustomized experiences in electronic transaction settings. In otherwords, various embodiments described herein can include a computerizedtool (e.g., any suitable combination of computer-executable hardwareand/or computer-executable software) that can electronically receive aQR code scanned by a client device and that can electronically providecustomized digital content to the client device in response to receivingthe scanned QR code. As mentioned above, conventional techniques simplydo not provide customized digital content in response to scanning of QRcodes. Instead, the digital content of such conventional techniquesdepends only upon the QR code that is scanned and does not depend uponany unique characteristics of the client device and/or of the user thatoperates the client device. Accordingly, when conventional techniquesare implemented, the provided digital content is un-customizable.Additionally, when conventional techniques are implemented, merchantsignages that display such QR codes must be regularly replaced, whichmeans that each merchant signage has a reduced useful lifespan. In starkcontrast, the computerized tool described herein can, in variousembodiments, allow for the provision of customized digital content thatis not merely a function of the QR code that is scanned. Accordingly,digital content can be varied without constantly changing the merchantsignages displaying the QR codes, which can thereby extend the usefullifespans of merchant signages.

In various embodiments, a computerized tool as described herein cancomprise a receiver component, a merchant component, a client component,a content component, and/or a transmitter component.

In various embodiments, a merchant signage can visually display a QRcode. In some cases, the merchant signage can be a non-electronicin-store signage associated with a merchant. For example, the merchantsignage can be a paper and/or cardboard poster that is affixed to a walland/or shelf of a merchant's store and on which the QR code is printedin ink. In other cases, the merchant signage can be a non-electronicsignage associated with a merchant but that is not located in themerchant's store. For instance, the merchant signage can be a pamphletand/or newspaper on which the QR code is printed in ink and that hasbeen mailed to a customer by the merchant. In some cases, the merchantsignage can be an electronic in-store signage associated with amerchant. For example, the merchant signage can be a computerizedscreen/monitor of an electronic point-of-sale device in the merchant'sstore and on which the QR code is electronically rendered. In othercases, the merchant signage can be an electronic signage associated witha merchant but that is not located in the merchant's store. Forinstance, the merchant signage can be a website and/or webpage whichcontains the QR code and which is electronically accessible from anysuitable computing device. In various aspects, the merchant signage canbe any other suitable type of merchant signage (e.g., a televisionscreen, a kiosk screen, a holographic/projected image).

In various instances, a client device can optically scan the QR codethat is displayed by the merchant signage. In some cases, the clientdevice can be any suitable type of smart device (e.g., a smart phone, asmart tablet, a smart watch, smart eyeglasses/goggles). In other cases,the client device can be any other suitable type of computing device. Invarious aspects, the client device can have a camera (and/or any othersuitable optical scanner), and the client device can leverage the cameraso as to optically scan and/or otherwise capture an image of the QR codeas displayed by the merchant signage. For example, suppose that a user(e.g., a customer, a buyer) who owns and/or operates the client devicecomes across the merchant signage while browsing the merchant's store.In various cases, the user can use the client device to take a pictureof the QR code that is depicted on the merchant signage. In such case,the client device can be considered as having scanned and/or capturedthe QR code.

In various embodiments, the receiver component of the computerized toolcan electronically receive the QR code from the client device. That is,the receiver component can be electronically coupled to the clientdevice via any suitable wired and/or wireless electronic connection, andthe receiver component can accordingly electronically obtain thescanned/captured image of the QR code from the client device (e.g., theclient device can electronically transfer the QR code to the receivercomponent).

In various embodiments, the receiver component can furtherelectronically receive from the client device a location indicator. Invarious aspects, the location indicator can be any suitable data thatidentifies and/or otherwise indicates a geolocation of the clientdevice. For example, the location indicator can indicate where theclient device was geolocated when the client device scanned and/orcaptured the QR code. As another example, the location indicator canindicate where the client device was geolocated when the client devicetransmitted the QR code to the receiver component. In various aspects,the location indicator can have any suitable format and/or can bespecified at any suitable level of granularity (e.g., can indicatecountry, state, city, address, latitude, longitude, elevation, and/orany suitable combination thereof).

In various instances, the client device can determine the locationindicator by leveraging any suitable global positioning sensors that areintegrated into the client device (e.g., the client device can includeone or more GPS sensors, the one or more GPS sensors can determine thelocation indicator by electronically communicating with one or more GPSsatellites, and the client device can transmit the location indicator tothe receiver component). In various other instances, the client devicecan determine the location indicator by communicating with any suitablegeolocation beacons that are physically within any suitable thresholdvicinity of the client device (e.g., each geolocation beacon can beassociated with a particular location, the client device can communicatewith and/or otherwise identify the nearest geolocation beacon, theclient device can determine the location indicator to be the locationassociated with the nearest geolocation beacon, and the client devicecan transmit the location indicator to the receiver component). In anycase, the client device can electronically determine the locationindicator and can electronically transmit the location indicator to thereceiver component.

In various embodiments, the receiver component can furtherelectronically receive from the client device a client identifier. Invarious aspects, the client identifier can be any suitable data thatcorresponds to the client device and/or to the user of the clientdevice. In various cases, the client identifier can be any suitablecombination of alphanumeric characters and/or symbols that identifiesand/or otherwise indicates the identity of client device and/or of theuser of the client device. In some cases, the client identifier can beelectronically stored on the client device. In other cases, the clientidentifier can be electronically stored remotely from the client devicebut can be nevertheless electronically accessible to the client device.In any case, the client device can obtain the client identifier via anysuitable data querying technique. Accordingly, the client device canelectronically transmit the client identifier to the receiver component.

In some cases, the receiver component can electronically receive the QRcode, the location indicator, and/or the client identifier from theclient device. That is, the client device can electronically transmitthe QR code, the location indicator, and/or the client identifier to thereceiver component. In other cases, however, the client device canelectronically transmit the QR code, the location indicator, and/or theclient identifier to any suitable centralized and/or decentralized datastructure (e.g., graph data structure, relational data structure, hybriddata structure), whether local to and/or remote from the client deviceand/or the receiver component, and the receiver component canelectronically retrieve the QR code, the location indicator, and/or theclient identifier from the data structure. In any case, the receivercomponent can electronically obtain in any suitable fashion the QR code,the location indicator, and/or the client identifier, so that othercomponents of the computerized tool can electronically access and/orinteract with the QR code, the location identifier, and/or the clientidentifier.

In various embodiments, the scanning/capturing of the QR code cantrigger the client device to automatically transmit the QR code, thelocation indicator, and/or the client identifier to the receivercomponent (and/or to the data structure). For example, when the user ofthe client device comes across the QR code displayed on the merchantsignage, the user of the client device can cause a program/application(e.g., the PayPal® app, the Venmo® app) that is electronically stored onthe client device to be launched. In various instances, once launched,the program/application can automatically cause the client device toactivate its camera (and/or other optical scanning hardware).Accordingly, the user of the client device can scan/capture the QR codevia the camera of the client device. In various cases, in response tothe client device scanning/capturing the QR code, theprogram/application can automatically cause the client device to obtainthe location indicator (e.g., by activating global positioning sensorsof the client device and/or by communicating with geolocation beaconsnear the client device) and/or the client identifier (e.g., by executingany suitable data queries). In various instances, in response to theclient device obtaining the location indicator and/or the clientidentifier, the program/application can automatically cause the clientdevice to electronically transmit the QR code, the location indicator,and/or the client identifier to the receiver component (and/or to thedata structure).

In various other embodiments, the scanning/capturing of the QR code cantrigger the client device to automatically transmit the QR code, thelocation indicator, and/or the client identifier to any suitablecomputing device that is associated with the merchant who owns and/oroperates the merchant signage, and the computing device associated withthe merchant can automatically relay the QR code, the locationindicator, and/or the client identifier to the receiver component. Forexample, when the user of the client device comes across the QR codedisplayed on the merchant signage, the user of the client device cancause a program/application (e.g., the PayPal® app, the Venmo® app) thatis electronically stored on the client device to be launched. In variousinstances, once launched, the program/application can automaticallycause the client device to activate its camera (and/or other opticalscanning hardware). Accordingly, the user of the client device canscan/capture the QR code via the camera of the client device. In variouscases, in response to the client device scanning/capturing the QR code,the program/application can automatically cause the client device toobtain the location indicator (e.g., by activating global positioningsensors of the client device and/or by communicating with geolocationbeacons near the client device) and/or the client identifier (e.g., byexecuting any suitable data queries). In various instances, in responseto the client device obtaining the location indicator and/or the clientidentifier, the program/application can automatically cause the clientdevice to electronically transmit the QR code, the location indicator,and/or the client identifier to the computing device associated with themerchant who owns and/or operates the merchant signage. Such computingdevice can be any suitable combination of computer-executable hardwareand/or computer-executable software (e.g., the computing deviceassociated with the merchant can be an electronic kiosk and/orpoint-of-sale device in the merchant's store). In various instances, thecomputing device associated with the merchant can electronically relaythe QR code, the location indicator, and/or the client identifier to thereceiver component.

In various embodiments, the merchant component of the computerized toolcan electronically identify a merchant that corresponds to the locationindicator and/or to the QR code by searching through a merchantrepository. In various aspects, the merchant repository can be anysuitable data structure, whether remote from and/or local to themerchant component, that electronically correlates a set of QR codeswith a set of location indicators and/or with a set of merchants. Invarious instances, the merchant component can identify (e.g., via anysuitable image recognition techniques) the scanned/captured QR code inthe set of QR codes. In various cases, multiple merchants in the set ofmerchants can correspond to the scanned/captured QR code. In otherwords, the same QR code can be displayed on the signages of multipledifferent merchants. Accordingly, in various aspects, location can beutilized to distinguish among such multiple different merchants. Thatis, in various instances, the merchant component can identify theretrieved location indicator in the set of location indicators, and themerchant component can further identify, from the multiple merchantsthat correspond to the scanned/captured QR code, that merchant whichcorresponds to the retrieved location indicator. In various cases, theidentified merchant can be considered as the merchant associated withthe merchant signage that was scanned by the client device. In otherwords, the merchant component can electronically determine the identityof the merchant whose QR code was scanned/captured by the client device,based on the retrieved location indicator and/or the scanned/captured QRcode.

As an example, suppose that the client device scans a particular QRcode. Furthermore, suppose that the particular QR code is displayed onsignages of a merchant E whose store is at location E, and suppose thatthe particular QR code is also displayed on signages of a merchant Fwhose store is at location F. Thus, the merchant repository cancorrelate the particular QR code with both the location E and with thelocation F, the merchant repository can correlate the location E withthe merchant E, and the merchant repository can correlate the location Fwith the merchant F. Accordingly, the location indicator retrieved fromthe client device can be used for merchant disambiguation. That is, ifthe retrieved location indicator indicates the location E, the merchantcomponent can determine that the client device scanned a merchantsignage associated with the merchant E. On the other hand, if thelocation indicator instead indicates the location F, the merchantcomponent can determine that the client device scanned a merchantsignage associated with the merchant F. In this way, location can beused to distinguish among different merchants.

In various embodiments, the client component of the computerized toolcan electronically identify a client profile that corresponds to theclient identifier by searching through a client repository. In variousaspects, the client repository can be any suitable data structure,whether remote from and/or local to the client component, thatelectronically correlates a set of client identifiers with a set ofclient profiles. In various instances, a client profile can be anysuitable collection of data which corresponds to a particularclient/customer (e.g., a particular buyer, a particular user of aparticular client device). For example, in some cases, a client profilecan indicate financial instrument information of a correspondingclient/customer (e.g., credit card number of the client/customer, debitcard number of the client/customer, bank account number of theclient/customer). In some aspects, a client profile can indicate one ormore product and/or service preferences of a correspondingclient/customer (e.g., different levels of like and/or dislike of theclient/customer with respect to different products/services). In variousinstances, a client profile can indicate one or more transactionhistories of a corresponding client/customer (e.g., can includerecords/logs identifying when, where, for what products/services, and/orfor how much money the client/customer has transacted in the past; caninclude records/logs indicating how many reward points have beenaccumulated by the client/customer at different merchants). In variouscases, a client profile can indicate one or more electronic shoppingcarts of a corresponding client/customer (e.g., can indicate whichproducts/services have been placed into online shopping carts of theclient/customer, can indicate which products/services have beenelectronically browsed by the client/customer). In various aspects, aclient profile can indicate one or more demographics of a correspondingclient/customer (e.g., age of the client/customer, gender of theclient/customer, ethnicity of the client/customer). In variousinstances, the client component can identify the retrieved clientidentifier in the set of client identifiers. Accordingly, the clientcomponent can identify, in the set of client profiles, that clientprofile which corresponds to the retrieved client identifier. In variouscases, the identified client profile can be considered as a collectionof data that describes the financial instruments, product/servicepreferences, transaction histories, electronic shopping carts, and/ordemographics of the user of the client device. In other words, theclient component can electronically determine the identity and/orcharacteristics of the user of the client device, based on the retrievedclient identifier.

In various embodiments, the content component of the computerized toolcan electronically identify digital content based on the identifiedmerchant and/or based on the identified client profile. In variousaspects, the content component can electronically access any suitabledata structure and/or electronic records that contain informationassociated with the identified merchant, and the content component canelectronically select any suitable subset of such information based onthe identified client profile. In various cases, such selected subset ofinformation can be considered as the digital content and can beconsidered as being customized and/or suited to the uniquecharacteristics of the user of the client device. More specifically, invarious embodiments, the content component can electronicallycommunicate with a data structure and/or with electronic records,whether remote from and/or local to the content component, whichindicate the identified merchant's currently available inventory, whichindicate the identified merchant's currently available promotionaloffers, and/or which indicate the identified merchant's currentlyavailable reward plans. In various instances, the content component cancross-check such currently available inventory, such currently availablepromotional offers, and/or such currently available reward plans withthe identified client profile. Because the identified client profile canindicate the financial instruments of the user of the client device, theproducts/services preferred by the user of the client device, thetransaction histories of the user of the client device, the electronicshopping carts of the user of the client device, and/or the demographicsof the user of the client device, such cross-checking can allow thecontent component to determine which subset of the currently availableinventory, of the currently available promotional offers, and/or of thecurrently available reward plans is pertinent and/or applicable to theuser of the client device.

In various cases, the content component can provide and/or initiate acustomized flow of digital content to the client device, based on theidentified merchant and/or the identified client profile. As mentionedabove, the content component can access electronic records that containinformation associated with the identified merchant, and the contentcomponent can filter such information based on the identified clientprofile. In various instances, it can be the case that the informationassociated with the identified merchant can change over time. Forexample, the currently-available inventory of the merchant, thecurrently-available promotional offers of the merchant, and/or thecurrently-available reward plans of the merchant can change from onemoment in time to another moment in time. Accordingly, in variousaspects, the content component can electronically monitor the electronicrecords that contain information associated with the identified merchantfor changes in such information. In various cases, when the electronicrecords indicate that the information associated with the merchant haschanged, the content component can filter such changed information basedon the identified client profile, thereby yielding new digital contentthat is customized according to the identified client profile. In thisway, the content component can identify a customized flow of digitalcontent across any suitable time span, based on the identified merchantand/or the identified client profile.

As an example, suppose that the identified merchant has a reward planthat offers a first amount of reward points for first-time customers, asecond amount of reward points for customers that have transacted withthe merchant at least 10 times in the last three months, and a thirdamount of reward points for customers that have transacted with themerchant at least 50 times in the last three months (e.g., those havingordinary skill in the art will appreciate that these particular numbersare merely non-limiting examples). If the identified client profileindicates that the user of the client device has transacted with themerchant 20 times in the last three months, the content component canidentify as the digital content the second amount of reward points(e.g., the content component can determine that the user of the clientdevice qualifies for the second amount of reward points and not for thefirst amount or third amount of reward points).

As another example, suppose that the identified merchant has a currentlyavailable inventory that includes steak and salmon. If the identifiedclient profile indicates that the user of the client device likes steakand dislikes salmon, the content component can identify as the digitalcontent an advertisement for the identified merchant's steak. On theother hand, if the identified client profile indicates that the user ofthe client device likes salmon and dislikes steak, the content componentcan identify as the digital content an advertisement for the identifiedmerchant's salmon. On still another hand, if the identified clientprofile indicates that the user of the client device likes both salmonand steak, the content component can identify as the digital content anadvertisement for the identified merchant's salmon and an advertisementfor the identified merchant's steak.

As yet another example, suppose that the identified merchant has apromotional offer pertaining to brownies. If the identified clientprofile indicates that an electronic shopping cart of the user of theclient device does not already include brownies, the content componentcan identify as the digital content the brownies promotional offer. Onthe other hand, if the identified client profile indicates that theelectronic shopping cart of the user of the client device alreadyincludes brownies, the content component can refrain from identifying asthe digital content the brownies promotional offer.

In this way, the information associated with the identified merchant canbe selectively filtered so as to be consistent with the preferencesand/or characteristics of the user of the client device, whichpreferences and/or characteristics can be specified by the identifiedclient profile.

In various embodiments, the transmitter component of the computerizedtool can electronically cause the digital content identified by thecontent component to be provided to the client device. In some cases,the transmitter component can electronically transmit the digitalcontent to the client device. In other cases, the transmitter componentcan electronically instruct a computing device associated with theidentified merchant to transmit the digital content to the clientdevice. In any case, the digital content can be provided to the clientdevice by any suitable technique. In various instances, once the digitalcontent is provided to the client device, the client device canelectronically render the digital content on a computer screen/monitorof the client device.

In various embodiments, the computerized tool described herein can beimplemented across any suitable number of programs/applications in anysuitable multitenant fashion. As mentioned above, the scanning and/ortransmitting of the QR code can be facilitated via a particularprogram/application that is electronically stored on the client device(e.g., via the PayPal® app, via the Venmo® app). In some cases, thatparticular program/application can also cause the client device toelectronically render the digital content. For example, if the clientdevice scans and/or transmits the QR code via the PayPal® app, thedigital content can be provided to the client device and/or rendered onthe client device via the PayPal® app. As another example, if the clientdevice scans and/or transmits the QR code via the Venmo® app, thedigital content can be provided to the client device and/or rendered onthe client device via the Venmo® app. In other cases, however, adifferent program/application that is stored on the client device cancause the client device to electronically render the digital content.For example, if the client device scans and/or transmits the QR code viathe PayPal® app, the digital content can be provided to the clientdevice and/or rendered on the client device via the Venmo® app. Asanother example, if the client device scans and/or transmits the QR codevia the Venmo® app, the digital content can be provided to the clientdevice and/or rendered on the client device via the PayPal® app. In someinstances, the different program/application can be a preferredprogram/application of the user of the client device (e.g., theidentified client profile can, in some cases, specify whichprogram/application the user of the client device prefers to renderdigital content).

In various aspects, there can exist different electronically-accessibledatabases that correspond to different programs/applications of theclient device. For instance, the PayPal® app can be associated withand/or can have access to one or more first databases containing clientand/or merchant information, and the Venmo® app can be associated withand/or can have access to one or more second databases containing clientand/or merchant information (e.g., the one or more first databases canbe different from the one or more second databases, the one or morefirst databases can contain different information than the one or moresecond databases, the one or more first databases can have differentsecurity clearances than the one or more second databases). Accordingly,in some cases, the client device can scan and/or transmit the QR codevia a first program/application (e.g., PayPal® app), the digital contentcan be identified by leveraging one or more databases correlated withthe first program/application (e.g., databases corresponding to thePayPal® app), and the digital content can be provided to and/or renderedon the client device via the first program/application (e.g., PayPal®app). In other cases, however, the client device can scan and/ortransmit the QR code via a first program/application (e.g., Venmo® app),the digital content can be identified by leveraging one or moredatabases correlated with a second program/application (e.g., databasescorresponding to the PayPal® app), and the digital content can beprovided to and/or rendered on the client device via the firstprogram/application (e.g., Venmo® app).

In various embodiments, the identified merchant can specify that thescanned/captured QR code is, at any given time, in one of a plurality ofactivation states. For example, the identified merchant can, in somecases, specify that the QR code is in an active state, and theidentified merchant can, in other cases, specify that the QR code is inan inactive state. In various aspects, the computerized tool canleverage such an activation status of the QR code to determine whetheror not to identify the digital content and/or to determine whether ornot to cause the digital content to be provided to the client device.For example, once the merchant component identifies the identifiedmerchant based on the location indicator and/or the QR code, themerchant component can determine the current activation status of the QRcode as specified by the identified merchant. That is, the merchantcomponent can electronically query any suitable data structure and/orelectronic records that indicate the current activation status of the QRcode as specified by the identified merchant. If the data structureand/or electronic records indicate that the identified merchant has setthe current activation status of the QR code to an active state, thecomputerized tool can proceed to identify the digital content and/or tocause the digital content to be provided to the client device. On theother hand, if the data structure and/or electronic records insteadindicate that the identified merchant has set the current activationstatus of the QR code to an inactive state, the computerized tool canrefrain from identifying the digital content and/or from causing thedigital content to be provided to the client device. In such case, thetransmitter component can transmit an electronic message to a computingdevice associated with the merchant, where the electronic messageprompts and/or requests the identified merchant to activate the QR code.

For example, suppose that a particular QR code is depicted on signagesof a merchant G associated with a location G and a merchant H associatedwith a location H. Moreover, suppose that the merchant G has specifiedthat the QR code is in an active state, while the merchant H hasspecified that the QR code is in an inactive state. In various cases, ifthe receiver component obtains the particular QR code and a locationindicator that indicates the location G, the merchant component canidentify the merchant G. Because the merchant G has specified that theparticular QR code is in an active state, the client component canidentify the client profile, the content component can identify thedigital content, and/or the transmitter component can cause the digitalcontent to be provided to the client device. In contrast, if thereceiver component instead obtains the particular QR code and a locationindicator that indicates the location H, the merchant component canidentify the merchant H. Because the merchant H has specified that theparticular QR code is in an inactive state, the client component canrefrain from identifying the client profile, the content component canrefrain from identifying the digital content, and/or the transmittercomponent can refrain from causing the digital content to be provided tothe client device. Instead, the transmitter component can transmit anelectronic message to a computing device owned and/or operated by themerchant H, asking the merchant H to activate the particular QR code.Accordingly, activation statuses of QR codes can be used to controlwhether digital content is provided to client devices.

In various embodiments, the computerized tool can further comprise afraud component. In various aspects, the fraud component canelectronically maintain and/or store authentication data which can beused to authenticate the scanned/captured QR code. That is, suchauthentication data can be leveraged by the computerized tool todifferentiate between authentic versions/copies of the scanned/capturedQR code and fraudulent versions/copies of the scanned/captured QR code.For example, an authentic version/copy of the scanned/captured QR codecan be yielded by scanning the merchant signage that displays the QRcode (e.g., by scanning a newspaper/poster that depicts the QR code, byscanning a merchant kiosk and/or point-of-sale device thatelectronically renders the QR code). On the other hand, a fraudulentversion/copy of the QR code can be yielded by scanning some non-merchantsignage that displays the QR code (e.g., by scanning an unauthorizedphoto-edited image of the QR code, by scanning an unauthorizedscreenshot of the QR code).

In various aspects, the authentication data can include a soundsignature that corresponds to the QR code and/or to the identifiedmerchant. In such cases, it can be the case that the merchant signage isconfigured to generate an ambient sound that conforms to the soundsignature while the merchant signage displays the QR code. For example,the merchant signage can be an electronic kiosk and/or point-of-saledevice that renders the QR code on a computer screen, and such kioskand/or point-of-sale device can emit the ambient sound from anelectronic speaker while the computer screen depicts the QR code. Invarious aspects, the client device can capture, via any suitablemicrophone sensors, the ambient sound at the time of scanning of the QRcode and/or at the time of transmitting the QR code to the receivercomponent. In various instances, the receiver component can thus obtainthe ambient sound (e.g., can obtain data indicating the ambient sound,such as timeseries pressure data). In various aspects, the fraudcomponent can compare the ambient sound to the sound signature known tocorrespond to the QR code and/or to the identified merchant. If thefraud component determines that the ambient sound matches and/or isconsistent with the sound signature, the fraud component can concludethat the QR code is authentic (e.g., can conclude that the client devicepermissibly obtained the QR code by scanning the merchant signage,because the ambient sound matches a sound known to be emitted from anauthentic merchant signage). Accordingly, the computerized tool canidentify the digital content and/or cause the digital content to beprovided to the client device. On the other hand, if the fraud componentdetermines that the ambient sound does not match and/or is notconsistent with the sound signature, the fraud component can concludethat the QR code is not authentic (e.g., can conclude that the clientdevice impermissibly obtained the QR code by scanning some non-merchantsignage, because the ambient sound does not match a sound known to beemitted from an authentic merchant signage). Accordingly, thecomputerized tool can refrain from identifying the digital contentand/or from causing the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice.

In some instances, it can be the case that the merchant signage does notemit an ambient sound while displaying the QR code. In such cases, themerchant signage can include and/or otherwise be associated with anysuitable microphone sensor which can capture ambient sounds that occuraround and/or near the merchant signage. Because the sounds that occuraround and/or near the merchant signage can vary over time, themicrophone sensor associated with the merchant signage can capturedifferent ambient sounds at different times. In various instances, themicrophone sensor associated with the merchant signage canelectronically transmit such different ambient sounds to the receivercomponent. As mentioned above, the client device can be configured tocapture ambient sounds that occur around and/or near the client deviceat the time of scanning/transmitting the QR code, and the client devicecan electronically transmit such captured ambient sounds to the receivercomponent. Accordingly, the fraud component can compare the ambientsounds captured by the client device to the different ambient soundscaptured by the microphone sensor associated with the merchant signage,in order to detect fraud. For example, if the client devicescans/transmits the QR code at a particular time (e.g., in a particulartime interval), the fraud component can compare the ambient soundcaptured by the client device at the particular time to an ambient soundcaptured by the microphone sensor associated with the merchant signageat that same particular time. If the fraud component determines that theambient sound captured by the client device at the particular timecorresponds to and/or is consistent with the ambient sound captured bythe microphone sensor associated with the merchant signage at that sameparticular time, the fraud component can conclude that the QR code isauthentic (e.g., can conclude that the client device permissiblyobtained the QR code by scanning the merchant signage, because theambient sound captured by the client device matches the ambient soundcaptured by the microphone sensor associated with the merchant signage).Accordingly, the computerized tool can identify the digital contentand/or cause the digital content to be provided to the client device. Onthe other hand, if the fraud component determines that the ambient soundcaptured by the client device at the particular time does not correspondto and/or is inconsistent with the ambient sound captured by themicrophone sensor associated with the merchant signage at that sameparticular time, the fraud component can conclude that the QR code isnot authentic (e.g., can conclude that the client device impermissiblyobtained the QR code by scanning some non-merchant signage, because theambient sound captured by the client device does not match the ambientsound captured by the microphone sensor associated with the merchantsignage). Accordingly, the computerized tool can refrain fromidentifying the digital content and/or causing the digital content to beprovided to the client device.

In various instances, the authentication data can include a time framethat corresponds to the QR code and/or to the identified merchant. Insuch cases, it can be the case that the merchant signage is configuredto depict/render the QR code at a time that conforms to the time frame.For example, the merchant signage can be an electronic kiosk and/orpoint-of-sale device that renders a different QR code on a computerscreen at different times (e.g., at different minutes, different hours,different days, different weeks, different months, and/or differentyears). In some cases, rendition of such a different QR code atdifferent times can be considered as rendition of a constantly-morphingQR code. In various aspects, the client device can capture, via anysuitable electronic clock, a timestamp indicating the time of scanningof the QR code and/or the time of transmitting the QR code to thereceiver component. In various instances, the receiver component canthus obtain the timestamp. In various aspects, the fraud component cancompare the timestamp to the time frame known to correspond to the QRcode and/or to the identified merchant. If the fraud componentdetermines that the timestamp is consistent with the time frame, thefraud component can conclude that the QR code is authentic (e.g., canconclude that the client device permissibly obtained the QR code byscanning the merchant signage, because an authentic merchant signage isknown to display the QR code at the time indicated by the timestamp).Accordingly, the computerized tool can identify the digital contentand/or cause the digital content to be provided to the client device. Onthe other hand, if the fraud component determines that the time stamp isnot consistent with the time frame, the fraud component can concludethat the QR code is not authentic (e.g., can conclude that the clientdevice impermissibly obtained the QR code by scanning some non-merchantsignage, because an authentic merchant signage is known to not displaythe QR code at the time indicated by the timestamp). Accordingly, thecomputerized tool can refrain from identifying the digital contentand/or causing the digital content to be provided to the client device.

In various aspects, the time frame can be provided by the merchantsignage and/or by any suitable computing device associated with themerchant signage (e.g., an electronic kiosk, a point-of-sale device, amerchant beacon). That is, the merchant signage and/or the computingdevice associated with the merchant signage can keep track of which QRcodes are displayed/rendered by the merchant signage during which timeintervals. In various aspects, the merchant signage and/or the computingdevice associated with the merchant signage can electronically transmitsuch time intervals to the receiver component. As mentioned above, theclient device can capture a timestamp indicating the time of scanningand/or transmitting of the QR code. Accordingly, the fraud component cancompare the timestamp captured by the client device to the differenttime intervals indicated by the merchant signage, in order to detectfraud. For example, if the client device scans/captures a particular QRcode, the fraud component can compare the timestamp captured by theclient device to a time interval during which the merchant signage(and/or during which the computing device associated with the merchantsignage) indicates that the particular QR code was rendered/displayed.If the fraud component determines that the timestamp is within the timeinterval indicated by the merchant signage, the fraud component canconclude that the QR code is authentic (e.g., can conclude that theclient device permissibly obtained the QR code by scanning the merchantsignage). Accordingly, the computerized tool can identify the digitalcontent and/or cause the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice. On the other hand, if the fraud component determines that thetimestamp is outside of the time interval indicated by the merchantsignage, the fraud component can conclude that the QR code is notauthentic (e.g., can conclude that the client device impermissiblyobtained the QR code by scanning the merchant signage). Accordingly, thecomputerized tool can refrain from identifying the digital contentand/or causing the digital content to be provided to the client device.

In various cases, the authentication data can include a surroundingenvironment that corresponds to the QR code and/or to the identifiedmerchant. In such cases, it can be the case that the merchant signage isconfigured to display the QR code in conjunction with some predeterminedborder, periphery, and/or symbol. For example, the merchant signage canbe a poster on which the QR code is printed in ink, and the poster canbe affixed to a distinctive wall and/or shelf of the merchant.Accordingly, it can be expected that a scanned/captured image of the QRcode also depicts the distinctive wall and/or shelf. As another example,the merchant signage can be a kiosk and/or point-of-sale device thatrenders the QR code on a computer screen, and the computer screen canhave a distinctive bezel. Accordingly, it can be expected that ascanned/captured image of the QR code also depicts the distinctivebezel. In various aspects, the client device can capture an image and/orvideo of the QR code. In various instances, the receiver component canthus obtain the image and/or video of the QR code and can identify, viaany suitable image recognition techniques, a surrounding environment ofthe QR code as depicted in the image and/or video. In other words, thecomputerized tool can analyze a periphery of the image and/or video todetermine what objects and/or symbols are depicted around the QR code.In various aspects, the fraud component can compare the surroundingenvironment to the known surrounding environment that corresponds to theQR code and/or to the identified merchant. If the fraud componentdetermines that the surrounding environment is consistent with the knownsurrounding environment, the fraud component can conclude that the QRcode is authentic (e.g., can conclude that the client device permissiblyobtained the QR code by scanning the merchant signage, because thesurrounding environment is known to be present at an authentic merchantsignage). Accordingly, the computerized tool can identify the digitalcontent and/or cause the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice. On the other hand, if the fraud component determines that thesurrounding environment is not consistent with the known surroundingenvironment, the fraud component can conclude that the QR code is notauthentic (e.g., can conclude that the client device impermissiblyobtained the QR code by scanning some non-merchant signage, because thesurrounding environment is known to not be present at an authenticmerchant signage). Accordingly, the computerized tool can refrain fromidentifying the digital content and/or causing the digital content to beprovided to the client device.

In various embodiments, the computerized tool can cause the digitalcontent to be provided to devices other than the client device.Specifically, in various aspects, the computerized tool can identify oneor more other users that are connected to, linked to, and/or otherwiseassociated with the user of the client device, and the computerized toolcan accordingly cause the digital content to be provided to one or morecomputing devices that respectively correspond to the one or more otherusers. As mentioned above, the client component can electronicallyidentify the client profile of the user of the of client device, basedon the client identifier obtained by the receiver component. In variousinstances, the client component can electronically access and/orotherwise electronically interact with another profile of the user ofthe client device, where the another profile can be associated with adifferent platform than the client profile. That is, the client profilecan be associated with a first platform (e.g., the PayPal® app), and theanother profile can be associated with a second platform (e.g., someprogram/application that is different from the PayPal® app). Forexample, the second platform can be a social media platform (e.g.,Facebook®, Twitter®, Instagram®), and the another profile can be asocial media account maintained on the social media platform (e.g., aFacebook® account, a Twitter® account, an Instagram® account).

In various aspects, the client component can electronically analyze, viaany suitable techniques, the another profile of the user of the clientdevice, so as to identify the one or more other users. For instance, ifthe another profile is a social media account of the user of the clientdevice, the client component can identify one or more other social mediaaccounts that are connected to, linked to, and/or otherwise associatedwith the social media account of the user of the client device, and theoperators of those one or more other social media accounts can beconsidered as the one or more other users. As a non-limiting example,the social media account of the user of the client device can be socialmedia friends with the one or more other social media accounts (e.g.,the user of the client device can be social media friends with the oneor more other users). As another non-limiting example, the social mediaaccount of the user of the client device can have recently tagged and/ormessaged the one or more other social media accounts (e.g., the user ofthe client device can have recently tagged/messaged the one or moreother users). As yet another example, the one or more other social mediaaccounts can have recently interacted with a social media post made bythe social media account of the user of the client device (e.g., the oneor more other users can have recently “liked” and/or “shared” a socialmedia post of the user of the client device).

Accordingly, in various cases, the client component can identify the oneor more other users based on the another profile of the user of theclient device. In various other cases, the client profile itself canindicate the identities of the one or more other users.

In various aspects, once the client component identifies the one or moreother users, the transmitter component can cause the digital content tobe provided to the one or more computing devices of the one or moreother users. That is, the user of the client device can scan the QRcode, the computerized tool described herein can identify the digitalcontent accordingly, and the computerized tool can cause the digitalcontent to be provided to the one or more other users that correspond tothe user of the client device. In some cases, the content component canidentify the digital content based on information associated with theone or more other users (e.g., financial instrument data of the one ormore other users, product/service preferences of the one or more otherusers, transaction histories of the one or more other users, electronicshopping carts of the one or more other users, demographics of the oneor more other users). In such cases, the digital content can becustomized to suit the one or more other users in addition to the userof the client device.

In various aspects, the one or more other users can be granted access tosome and/or all of the data contained in the client profile of the userof the client device. For instance, the one or more other users can, insome cases, be permitted to access and/or make charges to the financialinstrument data of the user of the client device. As another example,the one or more other users can see which products/services have beenplaced into an electronic shopping cart of the user of the clientdevice. As yet another example, one or more electronic shopping carts ofthe one or more other users can be combined with an electronic shoppingcart of the user of the client device, thereby allowing the one or moreother users to complete a transaction simultaneously with the user ofthe client device.

In various embodiments, the transmitter component can cause the digitalcontent to be provided to the one or more computing devices of the oneor more other users, based on a determination that the one or morecomputing devices are physically near the client device. In variousinstances, as explained above, the receiver component can electronicallyobtain the location indicator, which can specify and/or indicate thegeolocation of the client device at the time at which the client devicescans and/or transmits the QR code. In various cases, the receivercomponent can also electronically obtain one or more other locationindicators, which can respectively specify and/or indicate thegeolocations of the one or more computing devices of the one or moreother users (e.g., the one or more computing devices can transmit theirrespective location indicators to the receiver component, and/or thereceiver component can retrieve their respective location indicatorsfrom any suitable data structures that are electronically accessible tothe receiver component). Accordingly, in various aspects, the receivercomponent can compare the location indicator with the one or more otherlocation indicators. If the one or more other location indicators arewithin any suitable threshold distance of the location indicator (e.g.,if the one or more computing devices are physically near enough to theclient device), the computerized tool can proceed to identify thedigital content and/or to cause the digital content to be provided tothe one or more computing devices. On the other hand, if the one or moreother location indicators are not within the threshold distance of thelocation indicator (e.g., if the one or more computing devices are notphysically near enough to the client device), the computerized tool canrefrain from identifying the digital content and/or from causing thedigital content to be provided to the one or more computing devices.

Various embodiments of the subject innovation can be employed to usehardware and/or software to solve problems that are highly technical innature (e.g., to facilitate adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences), that are not abstract and that cannot be performed as aset of mental acts by a human. Further, some of the processes performedcan be performed by a specialized computer (e.g., QR codescanners/readers, merchant repositories, client profile repositories)for carrying out defined tasks related to adaptable QR codes to launchcustomized experiences. Some of such processes can include: receiving,by a device operatively coupled to a processor and from a customerdevice, a quick response (QR) code, a customer identifier, andgeolocation information associated with the customer device;identifying, by the device and from a plurality of vendors, a firstvendor that corresponds to the QR code, based on identifying that thefirst vendor corresponds to the geolocation information; identifying, bythe device and from a plurality of customer profiles, a first customerprofile that corresponds to the customer identifier; identifying, by thedevice, electronic content based on the first vendor and the firstcustomer profile; and causing, by the device, the electronic content tobe provided to the customer device. Such defined tasks are notconventionally performed manually by humans. Moreover, neither the humanmind nor a human with pen and paper can electronically receive ascanned/captured image of a QR code, electronically receive a clientidentifier, electronically receive geolocation data, electronicallysearch through a vendor repository to identify a vendor that correspondsto the QR code and/or the geolocation data, electronically searchthrough a customer profile repository to identify a customer profilethat corresponds to the customer identifier, electronically identifycustomized digital content by cross-checking electronic records of thevendor with the customer profile, and/or electronically cause thecustomized digital content to be transmitted to the customer device.Instead, various embodiments of the subject innovation are inherentlyand inextricably tied to computer technology and cannot be implementedoutside of a computing environment (e.g., only computing devices withscanning/optical sensors can scan/read QR codes, only computing devicescan automatically search through and/or filter electronic records).

In various instances, embodiments of the subject innovation canintegrate into a practical application the disclosed teachings regardingadaptable QR codes for customized experiences. Indeed, in variousembodiments, the disclosed teachings can provide a computerized systemthat can electronically receive a scanned/captured QR code from a clientdevice, a location indicator from the client device, and a clientidentifier from the client device. In various aspects, the computerizedsystem can electronically identify a merchant that corresponds to thelocation indicator and/or the QR code. In various instances, thecomputerized system can electronically identify a client profile thatcorresponds to the client identifier. In various cases, the computerizedsystem can electronically identify digital content based on the merchantand the client profile. In various aspects, the computerized system canthen provide the digital content to the client device. In various cases,the digital content can be considered as a subset of electronic datapertaining to the merchant, which subset is customized and/or suited tothe client profile. For example, the digital content can includeadvertisements of the merchant, promotions of the merchant, currentinventory of the merchant, and/or reward points earned from themerchant, based on product/service preferences specified in the clientprofile, transaction histories specified in the client profile,electronic shopping carts specified in the client profile, and/ordemographics specified in the client profile. As explained above,conventional techniques do not provide such customized digital contentin response to the scanning of a QR code. Moreover, such conventionaltechniques can further require the regular replacement of merchantsignages. In contrast, embodiments of the subject innovation canfacilitate the provision of customized digital content to customers inresponse to the scanning of a QR code, and such customized digitalcontent can eliminate a need for regular replacement of merchantsignages. Thus, various embodiments of the subject innovation clearlyconstitute a useful and practical application of computers.

It should be appreciated that the herein figures are exemplary andnon-limiting.

FIG. 1 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 100 that can facilitate adaptable QR codes forcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein.

As shown, an adaptable QR code system 102 can be electronicallyintegrated, via any suitable wired and/or wireless electronicconnection, with a client device 104. In various aspects, the clientdevice 104 can be any suitable smart device, such as a smart phone, asmart tablet, and/or a smart watch. In various other aspects, the clientdevice 104 can be any other suitable computing device (e.g., any othersuitable combination of computer-executable hardware and/orcomputer-executable software). In various instances, the client device104 can comprise a camera and/or any other suitable optical scanninghardware. In various cases, the client device 104 can further comprise acomputer screen/monitor and/or any other suitable electronic renderinghardware. In various aspects, the client device 104 can be owned and/oroperated by a user (e.g., a client, a customer, a buyer).

In various embodiments, a merchant signage 106 can be provided. Invarious instances, the merchant signage 106 can be any suitable type ofsignage that is owned by, operated by, and/or otherwise associated witha merchant (e.g., a vendor, a seller), and that visually displays a QRcode (not shown). In various cases, the merchant signage 106 can be anelectronic signage. For example, the merchant signage 106 can be anelectronic kiosk and/or an electronic point-of-sale device thatcomprises a computer screen/monitor, where the QR code can beelectronically rendered on the computer screen/monitor. In various othercases, the merchant signage 106 can be a non-electronic signage. Forexample, the merchant signage 106 can be a paper/cardboard poster onwhich the QR code is printed in ink. In various instances, the merchantsignage 106 can be an in-store signage. That is, the merchant signage106 can be physically located within a store of the merchant (e.g., canbe a paper/cardboard poster that is affixed to a wall and/or shelf ofthe merchant's store; can be an electronic kiosk and/or point-of-saledevice that is located within the merchant's store). In various otherinstances, the merchant signage 106 can be an out-of-store signage. Thatis, the merchant signage 106 can be not physically located within astore of the merchant (e.g., can be a newspaper advertisement and/orpostal letter which has been mailed to a customer and on which the QRcode is printed in ink; can be a webpage that is accessible from anysuitable computing device and which contains/displays the QR code).

In various aspects, the client device 104 can scan and/or capture, viathe camera and/or other optical scanning hardware of the client device104, the QR code as the QR code is displayed by the merchant signage106. In other words, the client device 104 can, in various cases,capture an image of the QR code that is displayed by the merchantsignage 106. As explained herein, the adaptable QR code system 102 canelectronically determine customized digital content in response to theclient device 104 scanning the QR code displayed by the merchant signage106, and the adaptable QR code system 102 can further electronicallycause such customized digital content to be provided to the clientdevice 104.

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise aprocessor 108 (e.g., computer processing unit, microprocessor) and acomputer-readable memory 110 that is operably and/or operatively and/orcommunicatively connected/coupled to the processor 108. The memory 110can store computer-executable instructions which, upon execution by theprocessor 108, can cause the processor 108 and/or other components ofthe adaptable QR code system 102 (e.g., receiver component 112, merchantcomponent 114, client component 116, content component 118, transmittercomponent 120) to perform one or more acts. In various embodiments, thememory 110 can store computer-executable components (e.g., receivercomponent 112, merchant component 114, client component 116, contentcomponent 118, transmitter component 120), and the processor 108 canexecute the computer-executable components.

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise areceiver component 112. As explained herein, the receiver component 112can electronically obtain the QR code that is scanned/captured by theclient device 104. In various cases, the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the QR code (e.g., the scanned/captured image ofthe QR code) to the receiver component 112, and the receiver component112 can accordingly electronically receive the QR code from the clientdevice 104. In various other cases, the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the QR code (e.g., the scanned/captured image ofthe QR code) to any other suitable third-party computing device (notshown) that is electronically accessible to the receiver component 112,and the receiver component 112 can accordingly electronically retrievethe QR code from the third-party computing device.

In various aspects, the receiver component 112 can electronically obtaina location indicator, which specifies a geolocation of the client device104. In various instances, the location indicator can specify where theclient device 104 was physically geolocated when the client device 104scanned/captured the QR code displayed by the merchant signage 106. Invarious other instances, the location indicator can specify where theclient device 104 was physically geolocated when the client device 104transmitted the QR code to the receiver component 112 (and/or to thethird-party computing device). In various cases, the location indicatorcan be formatted at any suitable level of granularity. For example, thelocation indicator can specify a country, a state, a city, an address, alatitude, a longitude, an elevation, any other suitable locationdesignation, and/or any suitable combination thereof. In variousinstances, the client device 104 can comprise a global positioningsensor, which can electronically generate and/or determine the locationindicator. In various other instances, the client device 104 canelectronically communicate with a geolocation beacon (not shown) that isassociated with and/or physically near the merchant signage 106, whichcan convey the location indicator to the client device 104. In variouscases, any other suitable technique can be implemented to obtain thelocation indicator. Just as with the QR code, the client device 104 can,in some cases, transmit the location indicator to the receiver component112. In other cases, the client device 104 can transmit the locationindicator to any suitable third-party computing device, and the receivercomponent 112 can retrieve the location indicator from the third-partycomputing device.

In various aspects, the receiver component 112 can electronically obtaina client identifier, which corresponds to a user of the client device104. In various instances, the client identifier can be any suitablecombination of alphanumeric characters and/or symbols which can indicatean identity of the user of the client device 104. Just as with thelocation indicator and/or the QR code, the client device 104 can, insome cases, transmit the client identifier to the receiver component112. In other cases, the client device 104 can transmit the clientidentifier to any suitable third-party computing device, and thereceiver component 112 can retrieve the client identifier from thethird-party computing device.

In any case, the receiver component 112 can electronically obtain the QRcode, the location indicator, and/or the client identifier, such thatother components of the adaptable QR code system 102 can electronicallyaccess and/or interact with the QR code, the location indicator, and/orthe client identifier.

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise amerchant component 114. As explained herein, the merchant component 114can electronically maintain and/or otherwise have electronic access to amerchant repository. In various instances, the merchant repository canbe any suitable data structure that correlates a set of QR codes with aset of location indicators and/or with a set of merchants. In variouscases, the merchant component can leverage the merchant repository, theQR code, and/or the location indicator to identify, from the set ofmerchants, the specific merchant that is associated with the merchantsignage 106. In various aspects, it can be the case that only onemerchant displays a given QR code on its signage. Accordingly, themerchant repository can correlate the given QR code to only that onemerchant. In various other aspects, however, it can be the case thatmultiple merchants display a given QR code on their respective signages.Accordingly, the merchant repository can correlate the given QR with allof such multiple merchants. In such cases, the location indicator can beused to distinguish between such multiple merchants. That is, eventhough the multiple merchants can each display the given QR code ontheir respective signages, each of the multiple merchants, and thus eachof their respective signages, can be correlated with a different and/orunique location indicator. In any case, the merchant component 114 canelectronically identify a merchant from the set of merchants maintainedby the merchant repository, based on the location indicator and/or QRcode received by the receiver component 112. In various instances, theidentified merchant can be considered as the merchant that owns,operates, and/or is otherwise associated with the merchant signage 106.

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise aclient component 116. As explained herein, the client component 116 canelectronically maintain and/or otherwise have electronic access to aclient profile repository. In various instances, the client profilerepository can be any suitable data structure that correlates a set ofclient identifiers with a set of client profiles. In various cases, aclient profile can include any suitable data that pertains to aclient/customer, such as financial instrument information of theclient/customer, product/service preferences of the client/customer,transaction histories of the client/customer, electronic shopping cartsof the client/customer, demographics of the client/customer, and/or anyother suitable information pertaining to the client/customer. In variousaspects, a particular client profile can be identified from the set ofclient profiles, based on that particular client profile correspondingto the client identifier received by the receiver component 112. Invarious instances, the identified client profile can be considered asspecifying various characteristics and/or information of the user of theclient device 104 (e.g., financial instrument data of the user of theclient device 104, product/service preferences of the user of the clientdevice 104, transaction histories of the user of the client device 104,electronic shopping carts of the user of the client device 104,demographics of the user of the client device 104).

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise acontent component 118. As explained herein, the content component 118can electronically identify and/or determine a digital content, based onthe identified merchant and/or the identified client profile. Morespecifically, in various instances, the content component 118 can haveelectronic access to any suitable electronic records (not shown) thatare associated with the identified merchant. Such electronic records canspecify current inventories of the identified merchant, currentadvertisements of the identified merchant, current promotional offers ofthe identified merchant, current reward plans of the identifiedmerchant, and/or any other suitable information pertaining to theidentified merchant. In various cases, the content component 118 canidentify as the digital content any suitable subset of the informationspecified by such electronic records, based on the identified clientprofile. In other words, the content component 118 can filter, sort,and/or prune the information specified by such electronic records, suchthat the subset of the information is consistent with the financialinstruments, the product/service preferences, the transaction histories,the electronic shopping carts, and/or the demographics specified in theidentified client profile. Since the identified client profile cancorrespond to the user of the client device 104, the digital contentidentified and/or determined by the content component 118 can beconsidered as being customized for the user of the client device 104.

In various embodiments, the adaptable QR code system 102 can comprise atransmitter component 120. As explained herein, the transmittercomponent 120 can electronically cause the digital content identified bythe content component 118 to be provided to the client device 104. Invarious cases, the transmitter component 120 can electronically transmitthe digital content to the client device 104. In various other cases,the transmitter component 120 can electronically transmit an instructionto any suitable computing device of the identified merchant, whichinstruction prompts the computing device of the identified merchant totransmit the digital content to the client device 104. In any case, thedigital content can be electronically transmitted to the client device104, and the client device 104 can electronically render the digitalcontent on the computer screen/monitor of the client device 104, suchthat the digital content is visible to the user of the client device104.

FIG. 2 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 200 including a QR code, a client identifier, and alocation indicator that can facilitate adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.As shown, the system 200 can, in some cases, comprise the samecomponents as the system 100, and can further comprise a QR code 202, aclient identifier 204, and a location indicator 206.

In various aspects, the QR code 202 can be any suitable quick responsecode. For instance, the QR code 202 can visually appear to be atwo-dimensional matrix and/or rectilinear grid of black and/or whitesquares, where the particular arrangement and/or pattern of the blackand/or white squares in the matrix/grid can represent, indicate, and/orcorrespond to stored, encrypted, encoded, and/or embedded information.Although the QR code 202 can be a two-dimensional matrix and/orrectilinear grid of black and/or white squares, this is a non-limitingexample. In some cases, the QR code 202 can exhibit any suitabledimensionality (e.g., can be a one-dimensional barcode), can exhibit anysuitable shape (e.g., can be circular, polygonal, slanted, irregular,and/or not necessarily rectilinear), and/or can exhibit any suitablecolors and/or combinations of colors.

In various embodiments, the merchant signage 106 can visually displaythe QR code 202. As mentioned above, the merchant signage 106 can, insome cases, be non-electronic signage (e.g., a poster, a sticker, apaper) on which the QR code 202 is printed in ink. As also mentionedabove, the merchant signage 106 can, in some cases, be electronicsignage (e.g., an electronic kiosk, a point-of-sale device, atelevision, a computer) which electronically renders the QR code 202 ona computer screen/monitor. In any case, the merchant signage 106 canvisibly display, depict, and/or present the QR code 202.

In various embodiments, the client device 104 can electronically scanand/or capture the QR code 202 as displayed by the merchant signage 106.As mentioned above, the client device 104 can include a camera and/orany other suitable optical scanning equipment. In various instances, theclient device 104 can utilize such camera and/or optical scanningequipment so as to capture an image of the merchant signage 106 as themerchant signage 106 displays the QR code 202. By capturing an image ofthe merchant signage 106 while the merchant signage 106 is displayingthe QR code 202, the client device 104 can be considered as havingscanned and/or captured the QR code 202. Once the client device 104 hasscanned and/or captured the QR code 202, the client device 104 can, invarious aspects, electronically transmit the QR code 202 to the receivercomponent 112. In various other aspects, once the client device 104 hasscanned and/or captured the QR code 202, the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the QR code 202 to any other suitable computingdevice (not shown) that is electronically accessible to the receivercomponent 112, and the receiver component 112 can electronicallyretrieve the QR code 202 from such computing device. In any case, thereceiver component 112 can electronically obtain the QR code 202.

In various embodiments, the client identifier 204 can be any suitablepiece of data that is correlated with the client device 104 and/or withthe user of the client device 104. In other words, the client identifier204 can indicate an identity of the client device 104 and/or of the userof the client device 104. In various instances, the client identifier204 can comprise any suitable combination of alphanumeric characters(e.g., letters, numbers) and/or symbols (e.g., punctuation marks,hashtags, ampersands, asterisks). In various aspects, the clientidentifier 204 can be electronically stored and/or maintained by theclient device 104. In such case, the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the client identifier 204 to the receivercomponent 112. In various other aspects, the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the client identifier 204 to any other suitablecomputing device (not shown) that is electronically accessible to thereceiver component 112, and the receiver component 112 canelectronically retrieve the client identifier 204 from such computingdevice. In any case, the receiver component 112 can electronicallyobtain the client identifier 204.

In various embodiments, the location indicator 206 can be any suitablepiece of data that specifies a geolocation of the client device 104. Insome cases, the location indicator 206 can specify a geolocation atwhich the client device 104 scanned and/or captured the QR code 202 asthe QR code 202 was being displayed by the merchant signage 106. Inother cases, the location indicator 206 can specify a geolocation atwhich the client device 104 transmitted the QR code 202 to the receivercomponent 112 (and/or to any other computing device). In variousaspects, the location indicator 206 can specify the geolocation of theclient device 104 at any suitable level of granularity and/or in anysuitable format. For example, in some cases, the location indicator 206can specify a city in which the client device 104 scanned, captured,and/or transmitted the QR code 202. As another example, in some cases,the location indicator 206 can specify a building address (e.g., streetname and/or number) at which the client device 104 scanned, captured,and/or transmitted the QR code 202. As yet another example, the locationindicator 206 can specify a sub-building designation (e.g., which floorof a building, which room of a building, which aisle in a store, whichend of which aisle in a store) at which the client device 104 scanned,captured, and/or transmitted the QR code 202. As still another example,the location indicator 206 can specify a latitude, longitude, and/orelevation at which the client device 104 scanned, captured, and/ortransmitted the QR code 202.

In various instances, the client device 104 can comprise any suitableglobal positioning sensors (not shown). In such case, the client device104 can utilize the global positioning sensors to determine the locationindicator 206. In various other instances, the client device 104 can bein electronic communication with any suitable geolocation beacons (notshown) that are within any suitable physical vicinity of the clientdevice 104. In such case, the client device 104 can communicate with thegeolocation beacons to determine the location indicator 206. In variousaspects, once the client device 104 has determined the locationindicator 206, the client device 104 can electronically transmit thelocation indicator 206 to the receiver component 112. In various otheraspects, once the client device 104 has determined the locationindicator 206, the client device 104 can electronically transmit thelocation indicator 206 to any other suitable computing device (notshown) that is electronically accessible to the receiver component 112,and the receiver component 112 can electronically retrieve the locationindicator 206 from such computing device. In any case, the receivercomponent 112 can electronically obtain the location indicator 206.

FIG. 3 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 300 including a merchant repository that canfacilitate adaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein. As shown, the system 300can, in some cases, comprise the same components as the system 200, andcan further comprise a merchant repository 302 and/or a merchant 304.

In various aspects, the merchant component 114 can electronically storeand/or maintain the merchant repository 302. In various other aspects,the merchant repository 302 can be electronically stored and/ormaintained remotely from the merchant component 114, but the merchantrepository 302 can nevertheless be electronically accessible to themerchant component 114. In various instances, the merchant repository302 can be any suitable data structure that correlates a set of QR codeswith a set of location indicators and/or with a set of merchants. Inother words, the merchant repository 302 can be considered as specifyingwhich QR codes are being displayed in which locations by whichmerchants. Accordingly, for a given QR code from the set of QR codes andfor a given location indicator from the set of location indicators, aparticular merchant from the set of merchants can be identified, suchthat the particular merchant corresponds to the given QR code and/or tothe given location indicator. The particular merchant can be consideredas owning, operating, and/or otherwise being associated with a merchantsignage that displays the given QR code at a location specified by thegiven location indicator.

In various aspects, the merchant component 114 can identify the QR code202 in the set of QR codes that are stored in the merchant repository302. Moreover, in various instances, the merchant component 114 canidentify the location indicator 206 in the set of location indicatorsthat are stored in the merchant repository 302. Thus, in various cases,the merchant component 114 can identify the merchant 304 in the set ofmerchants that are stored in the merchant repository 302, where themerchant 304 can correspond to both the QR code 202 and the locationindicator 206. This is explained in more detail with respect to FIG. 4 .

FIG. 4 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting merchant repository in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein. In other words, FIG. 4 depicts anon-limiting example embodiment of the merchant repository 302.

As shown, the merchant repository 302 can correlate a set of QR codes402 with a set of location indicators 404 and/or with a set of merchants406. In various cases, the set of QR codes 402 can include any suitablenumber of QR codes (e.g., QR code 1 to QR code n, for any suitablepositive integer n). In various instances, more than one locationindicator can be correlated with a QR code in the set of QR codes 402.For example, as shown, the QR code 1 can be correlated with a subset ofthe set of location indicators 404. More specifically, the QR code 1 canbe correlated with a location indicator 1.1 to a location indicator 1.m,for any suitable positive integer m. Similarly, the QR code n can becorrelated with a subset of the set of location indicators 404. Morespecifically, the QR code n can be correlated with a location indicatorn.1 to a location indicator n.m. In various aspects, each locationindicator in the set of location indicators 404 can be correlated with amerchant in the set of merchants 406. For example, as shown, thelocation indicator 1.1 can correspond to a merchant 1.1, the locationindicator 1.m can correspond to a merchant 1.m, the location indicatorn.1 can correspond to a merchant n.1, and the location indicator n.m cancorrespond to a merchant n.m.

In various aspects, the merchant repository 302 can be interpreted inthe following way. Since the QR code 1 corresponds to the locationindicator 1.1 which corresponds to the merchant 1.1, it can be inferredand/or determined that the merchant 1.1 owns, operates, and/or isotherwise associated with a merchant signage that displays the QR code 1at a location specified by the location indicator 1.1. Similarly, sincethe QR code 1 corresponds to the location indicator 1.m whichcorresponds to the merchant 1.m, it can be inferred and/or determinedthat the merchant 1.m owns, operates, and/or is otherwise associatedwith a merchant signage that displays the QR code 1 at a locationspecified by the location indicator 1.m. Likewise, since the QR code ncorresponds to the location indicator n.1 which corresponds to themerchant n.1, it can be inferred and/or determined that the merchant n.1owns, operates, and/or is otherwise associated with a merchant signagethat displays the QR code n at a location specified by the locationindicator n.1. Similarly, since the QR code n corresponds to thelocation indicator n.m which corresponds to the merchant n.m, it can beinferred and/or determined that the merchant n.m owns, operates, and/oris otherwise associated with a merchant signage that displays the QRcode n at a location specified by the location indicator n.m.

In various cases, the merchant component 114 can identify the QR code202 in the set of QR codes 402, and the merchant component 114 can alsoidentify the location indicator 206 in the set of location indicators404. Accordingly, the merchant component 114 can identify, in the set ofmerchants 406, the particular merchant that corresponds to both the QRcode 202 and the location indicator 206. In various cases, thatparticular merchant can be the merchant 304 (e.g., can be the merchantthat owns, operates, and/or is otherwise associated with the merchantsignage 106 that displays the QR code 202 at a location specified by thelocation indicator 206).

Although FIG. 4 shows that each QR code in the set of QR codes 402 iscorrelated to m location indicators, this is a mere non-limiting examplefor ease of illustration. Those having ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that different QR codes in the set of QR codes 402 cancorrespond to different numbers of location indicators in the set oflocation indicators 404 (e.g., a first QR code can correspond to slocation indicators for any suitable positive integer s; a second QRcode can correspond to t location indicators for any suitable positiveinteger t where t≠s). Moreover, although FIG. 4 shows that each QR codecorresponds to a different set of location indicators, and although FIG.4 shows that each location indicator corresponds to a differentmerchant, this is a mere non-limiting example for ease of illustration.Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that any suitablenumber of QR codes can be displayed by any suitable number of merchantsin any suitable number of locations (e.g., a given merchant can displaymore than one QR code at a given location; a given merchant can displayone QR code at multiple locations).

FIG. 5 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 500 including a client profile repository that canfacilitate adaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein. As shown, the system 500can, in some cases, comprise the same components as the system 300, andcan further comprise a client profile repository 502 and/or a clientprofile 504.

In various aspects, the client component 116 can electronically storeand/or maintain the client profile repository 502. In various otheraspects, the client profile repository 502 can be electronically storedand/or maintained remotely from the client component 116, but the clientprofile repository 502 can nevertheless be electronically accessible tothe client component 116. In various instances, the client profilerepository 502 can be any suitable data structure that correlates a setof client identifiers with a set of client profiles, where a clientprofile can be any suitable collection of electronic data that specifiesany suitable attributes of a customer/client. Accordingly, for a givenclient identifier from the set of client identifiers, a particularclient profile from the set of client profiles can be identified, suchthat the particular client profile corresponds to the given clientidentifier.

In various aspects, the client component 116 can identify the clientidentifier 204 in the set of client identifiers that are stored in theclient profile repository 502. Thus, in various cases, the clientcomponent 116 can identify the client profile 504 in the set of clientprofiles that are stored in the client profile repository 502, where theclient profile 504 can correspond to the client identifier 204. This isexplained in more detail with respect to FIG. 6 .

FIG. 6 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting client profile repository in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein. In other words, FIG. 6 depicts anon-limiting example embodiment of the client profile repository 502.

As shown, the client profile repository 502 can correlate a set ofclient identifiers 602 with a set of client profiles 604. In variouscases, the set of client identifiers 602 can include any suitable numberof client identifiers (e.g., client identifier 1 to client identifier q,for any suitable positive integer q). In various instances, each clientidentifier in the set of client identifiers 602 can be respectivelycorrelated with a client profile in the set of client profiles 604. Forexample, as shown, the client identifier 1 can be correlated with aclient profile 1. Similarly, the client identifier q can be correlatedwith a client profile q.

In various aspects, the client profile repository 502 can be interpretedin the following way. Since the client identifier 1 corresponds to theclient profile 1, it can be inferred and/or determined that, when aclient device provides the client identifier 1 to the receiver component112, attributes of a user of the client device can be specified by theclient profile 1. Likewise, since the client identifier q corresponds tothe client profile q, it can be inferred and/or determined that, when aclient device provides the client identifier q to the receiver component112, attributes of a user of the client device can be specified by theclient profile q.

In various cases, the client component 116 can identify the clientidentifier 204 in the set of client identifiers 602. Accordingly, theclient component 116 can identify, in the set of client profiles 604,the particular client profile that corresponds to the client identifier204. In various cases, that particular client profile can be the clientprofile 504.

In various aspects, the client profile 504 can specify any suitableattributes of the user of the client device 104. As shown, suchattributes can, in various embodiments, include financial instrumentdata 606. In various cases, the financial instrument data 606 canindicate financial instruments (e.g., credit card numbers, debit cardnumbers, bank account numbers) that are owned by, operated by, and/orotherwise associated with the user of the client device 104. As shown,the attributes can, in various aspects, include product/servicepreferences 608. In various cases, the product/service preferences 608can indicate whether the user of the client device 104 likes and/ordislikes various products and/or services (e.g., likes bananas, dislikesyogurt, strongly likes action movies, strongly dislikes comedic movies,neither likes nor dislikes documentaries). In some cases, theproduct/service preferences 608 can be framed on an absolute scale(e.g., likes apples, dislikes peaches, neutral toward cucumbers) and/ora relative scale (e.g., prefers apples to cucumbers, prefers cucumbersto peaches). As shown, the attributes can, in various instances, includetransaction histories 610. In various cases, the transaction histories610 can be records and/or logs that specify past transactionsparticipated in by the user of the client device 104 (e.g., can specifywhen the user of the client device 104 purchased and/or rented whichproducts/services from which merchants at what prices). In some cases,the transaction histories 610 can further specify reward points that theuser of the client device 104 has accumulated at various merchants dueto such past transactions. In various cases, the transaction histories610 can include online browsing histories of the user of the clientdevice 104 (e.g., can indicate which products/services the user of theclient device 104 has browsed online). As shown, the attributes can, invarious aspects, include electronic shopping carts 612. In variouscases, the electronic shopping carts 612 can indicate products and/orservices that have been placed into one or more online shopping cartsand/or one or more online shopping bags of the user of the client device104. As shown, the attributes can, in various instances, includedemographics 614. In various cases, the demographics 614 can indicateany suitable information about the user of the client device 104 (e.g.,age, height, weight, gender, profession/occupation, ethnicity, religion,political affiliation). Although not shown in FIG. 6 , the clientprofile 504 can specify any other suitable type of data that describesand/or characterizes the user of the client device 104.

FIG. 7 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 700 including a digital content that can facilitateadaptable QR codes for customized experiences in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein. As shown, the system 700 can, in somecases, comprise the same components as the system 500, and can furthercomprise digital content 702.

In various embodiments, the content component 118 can electronicallyidentify the digital content 702, based on the merchant 304 and/or basedon the client profile 504. More specifically, in various aspects, thecontent component 118 can electronically access any suitable electronicrecords (not shown), which can be electronically stored and/ormaintained remotely from and/or locally to the content component 118,and which can be associated with the merchant 304. That is, in variousinstances, such electronic records can specify any suitable informationpertaining to the merchant 304. For example, such electronic records canspecify a currently available inventory of the merchant 304 (e.g., canindicate which products and/or services are currently being offered bythe merchant 304). As another example, such electronic records canspecify currently available promotions of the merchant 304 (e.g., canindicate which coupons and/or discounts are currently being offered bythe merchant 304, and/or can identify any prerequisites of such couponsand/or discounts). As yet another example, such electronic records canspecify currently available reward plans of the merchant 304 (e.g., canindicate which loyalty programs are currently being offered by themerchant 304, and/or can identify any prerequisites of such loyaltyprograms).

In various aspects, the content component 118 can filter and/or sortthrough such electronic records based on the client profile 504, so asto yield information that is both associated with the merchant 304 andthat is pertinent to the user of the client device 104. The result ofsuch filtering and/or sorting can be considered as the digital content702.

For instance, the content component 118 can identify products/servicesthat are both in the currently available inventory of the merchant 304and that are indicated in the client profile 504 as beingpreferred/liked by the user of the client device 104. The contentcomponent 118 can accordingly include advertisements for suchproducts/services in the digital content 702 (e.g., suchproducts/services are being offered by the merchant 304 and are liked bythe user of the client device 104, and so providing an advertisement forsuch products/services to the client device 104 can be effective).Conversely, the content component 118 can identify products/servicesthat are both in the currently available inventory of the merchant 304and that are indicated in the client profile 504 as being disliked bythe user of the client device 104. Accordingly, the content component118 can refrain from including advertisements for such products/servicesin the digital content 702 (e.g., although such products/services arebeing offered by the merchant 304, the user of the client device 104does not like such products/services, and so providing an advertisementfor such products/services to the client device 104 can be ineffective).

As another example, the content component 118 can identifyproducts/services that are in the currently available inventory of themerchant 304, that are indicated in the client profile 504 as beingpreferred/liked by the user of the client device 104, and that areindicated in the client profile 504 as not already being in anelectronic shopping cart of the user of the client device 104. Thecontent component 118 can accordingly include advertisements for suchproducts/services in the digital content 702 (e.g., suchproducts/services are being offered by the merchant 304, are liked bythe user of the client device 104, and are not yet in an electronicshopping cart of the user of the client device 104, meaning thatproviding an advertisement for such products/services to the clientdevice 104 can be effective). Conversely, the content component 118 canidentify products/services that are in the currently available inventoryof the merchant 304, that are indicated in the client profile 504 asbeing preferred/liked by the user of the client device 104, and that areindicated in the client profile 504 as already being in an electronicshopping cart of the user of the client device 104. The contentcomponent 118 can accordingly refrain from including advertisements forsuch products/services in the digital content 702 (e.g., although suchproducts/services are being offered by the merchant 304 and are liked bythe user of the client device 104, such products/services are already inan electronic shopping cart of the user of the client device 104,meaning that the user of the client device 104 has already resolved topurchase them; thus, providing an advertisement for suchproducts/services to the client device 104 can be ineffective).

As yet another example, the content component 118 can identify coupons,discounts, and/or reward points that are being offered by the merchant304, the prerequisites of which are satisfied by the financialinstruments of the user of the client device 104 (e.g., in some cases, acoupon, a discount, and/or an amount of reward points can be earned by acustomer if the customer pays for a transaction with a particular creditcard). The content component 118 can accordingly include advertisementsfor such coupons, discounts, and/or reward points in the digital content702 (e.g., if the client profile indicates that the user of the clientdevice 104 has a financial instrument that qualifies for a coupon,discount, and/or reward, providing an advertisement for such coupon,discount, and/or reward to the client device 104 can be effective).Conversely, the content component 118 can identify coupons, discounts,and/or reward points that are being offered by the merchant 304, theprerequisites of which are not satisfied by the financial instruments ofthe user of the client device 104. Accordingly, the content component118 can refrain from including advertisements for such coupons,discounts, and/or reward points in the digital content 702 (e.g., if theclient profile 504 indicates that the user of the client device 104lacks all financial instruments that qualify for a coupon, discount,and/or reward, providing an advertisement for such coupon, discount,and/or reward to the client device 104 can be ineffective).

As still another example, the content component 118 can identifycoupons, discounts, and/or reward points that are being offered by themerchant 304, the prerequisites of which are satisfied by thetransaction histories of the user of the client device 104 (e.g., insome cases, a coupon, a discount, and/or an amount of reward points canbe earned by a customer if the customer has transacted with a particularmerchant at least a threshold amount of times within a predeterminedtime period). The content component 118 can accordingly include suchcoupons, discounts, and/or reward points in the digital content 702(e.g., if the client profile indicates that the user of the clientdevice 104 has transacted with a merchant enough times to qualify for acoupon, discount, and/or reward, such coupon, discount, and/or rewardshould be provided to the client device 104). Conversely, the contentcomponent 118 can identify coupons, discounts, and/or reward points thatare being offered by the merchant 304, the prerequisites of which arenot satisfied by the transaction histories of the user of the clientdevice 104. Accordingly, the content component 118 can refrain fromincluding such coupons, discounts, and/or reward points in the digitalcontent 702 (e.g., if the client profile indicates that the user of theclient device 104 has not yet transacted with a merchant enough times toqualify for a coupon, discount, and/or reward, such coupon, discount,and/or reward should not be provided to the client device 104).

Therefore, the digital content 702 can be considered as a subset ofinformation associated with the merchant 304, which subset is customizedto comply and/or be consistent with the client profile 504 (e.g., iscustomized to suit the attributes of the user of the client device 104).

In various embodiments, the digital content 702 can include scavengerhunt data. In some cases, the merchant 304 can facilitate and/orotherwise sanction a scavenger hunt, in which participants are taskedwith finding and scanning a plurality of QR codes that are hiddenthroughout one or more stores of the merchant 304. In various aspects,the merchant 304 can offer particular coupons, discounts, and/or rewardsto customers who complete (and/or partially complete) the scavengerhunt. In various aspects, the electronic records associated with themerchant 304 can include data that describes and/or characterizes such ascavenger hunt (e.g., that stipulates the rules and/or objectives ofsuch a scavenger hunt). In various instances, the client profile 504 caninclude data that indicates a level of scavenger hunt progress that hasbeen achieved by the user of the client device 104 (e.g., such progresscan be incrementally increased with each QR code of the merchant 304that is scanned by the client device 104). Accordingly, the contentcomponent 118 can, in some cases, include in the digital content 702information regarding such a scavenger hunt (e.g., such information canindicate a new level of scavenger hunt progress achieved by the user ofthe client device 104 due to scanning the QR code 202).

In various embodiments, as mentioned above, the transmitter component120 can electronically cause the digital content 702 to be provided tothe client device 104. In various cases, the transmitter component 120can electronically transmit the digital content 702 to the client device104. In other cases, the transmitter component 120 can electronicallyinstruct a computing device associated with the merchant 304 to transmitthe digital content 702 to the client device 104. In any case, theclient device 104 can obtain the digital content 702. In variousinstances, the client device 104 can electronically render the digitalcontent 702, so that it is visible to and/or viewable by the user of theclient device 104.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 800 that can facilitate adaptable QR codesfor customized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. In various cases, the computer-implemented method 800can be facilitated by the adaptable QR code system 102.

In various embodiments, act 802 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively coupled to a processor, a QR code (e.g., 202), aclient ID (e.g., 204), and/or a location indicator (e.g., 206) from aclient device (e.g., 104). In various cases, the QR code, the client ID,and/or the location indicator can be provided when the client devicescans the QR code as the QR code is displayed by a merchant signage(e.g., 106).

In various aspects, act 804 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 114), a merchant (e.g., 304) based on the location indicatorand/or on the QR code. In some cases, one QR code can be displayed bymultiple merchants at multiple different locations. Accordingly, thelocation indicator can be leveraged for merchant disambiguation.

In various instances, act 806 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116), a client profile (e.g., 504) based on the client ID. Invarious cases, the client profile can include information about a userof the client device, such as financial instruments of the user,transaction history of the user, and/or product/service preferences ofthe user.

In various aspects, act 808 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on the merchant and theclient profile. In various cases, electronic records which indicatemerchant promotions, merchant offers, merchant reward programs, and/ormerchant inventory can be cross-referenced with the client profile toidentify the digital content that is pertinent to the user of the clientdevice.

In various instances, act 810 can include causing, by the device (e.g.,120), the digital content to be provided to the client device. In somecases, the device can transmit the digital content to the client device.In other cases, the device can instruct a computing device of themerchant to transmit the digital content to the client device.

FIGS. 9-10 illustrate communication diagrams of example, non-limitingworkflows 900-1000 that can facilitate adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

First consider the workflow 900. In various embodiments, the merchantsignage 106 can visually display the QR code 202 to the client device104. Accordingly, at act 902, the client device 104 can electronicallyscan and/or capture the QR code 202.

In various instances, the client device 104 can, at act 904,electronically transmit the QR code 202 to the adaptable QR code system102. In various cases, the client device 104 can also, at act 904,determine and electronically transmit the client identifier 204 and thelocation indicator 206 to the adaptable QR code system 102.

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 906,electronically identify the merchant 304 based on the location indicator206 and/or the QR code 202 (e.g., by leveraging the merchant repository302).

In various instances, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 908,electronically identify the client profile 504 based on the clientidentifier 204 (e.g., by leveraging the client profile repository 502).

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 910,electronically identify the digital content 702 based on the merchant304 and/or the client profile 504 (e.g., by using the client profile 504to filer and/or sort through electronic records that specify theinventory, promotions, and/or reward plans of the merchant 304). Asexplained herein, the digital content 702 can be considered as beingcustomized to the user of the client device 104 (e.g., a different userof a different client device that scans the QR code 202 can be providedwith different digital content).

In various instances, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 912,electronically transmit the digital content 702 to the client device104.

Now, consider the workflow 1000. As shown, the acts 902-910 in theworkflow 1000 can be as described above.

In various embodiments, rather that transmitting the digital content 702directly to the client device 104, the adaptable QR code system 102 can,at act 1004, electronically transmit an instruction to a merchant device1002. In various instances, the merchant device 1002 can be any suitablecomputing device that is owned by, operated by, and/or otherwiseassociated with the merchant 304. In various aspects, the instructioncan command and/or prompt the merchant device 1002 to transmit thedigital content 702 to the client device 104.

In various instances, in response to the instruction from the adaptableQR code system 102, the merchant device 1002 can, at act 1006,electronically transmit the digital content 702 to the client device104.

In either the workflow 900 and/or the workflow 1000, the client device104 can electronically obtain the digital content 702, and the clientdevice 104 can accordingly render the digital content 702, such that itis viewable to the user of the client device 104.

In various aspects, embodiments of the subject innovation can employ anysuitable multitenancy architecture as desired. For example, in variousinstances, the client device 104 can electronically store and/ormaintain any suitable number of programs/applications. In various cases,a first program/application that is electronically stored and/ormaintained on the client device 104 can cause the client device 104 toscan/capture the QR code 202, can cause the client device 104 toidentify the client identifier 204, and/or can cause the client device104 to identify the location indicator 206. That is, when the firstprogram/application is launched/invoked by the user of the client device104, the first program/application can activate the camera of the clientdevice 104, the data querying capabilities of the client device 104,and/or the global positioning capabilities of the client device 104. Asa non-limiting example, the first program/application can be the PayPal®app and/or the Venmo® app.

In some cases, the digital content 702 can be provided to and/orrendered by the first program/application of the client device 104. Asan example, the PayPal® app of the client device 104 can cause theclient device 104 to transmit the QR code 202, the client identifier 204and/or the location indicator 206 to the receiver component 112, and thedigital content 702 can be obtained and/or rendered by the PayPal® appof the client device 104. In other cases, however, the digital content702 can be provided to and/or rendered by a second program/applicationthat is electronically stored and/or maintained on the client device104, where the second program/application is different from the firstprogram/application. As an example, the PayPal® app of the client device104 can cause the client device 104 to transmit the QR code 202, theclient identifier 204 and/or the location indicator 206 to the receivercomponent 112, but the digital content 702 can be obtained and/orrendered by the Venmo® app of the client device 104. That is, oneprogram/app of the client device 104 can be invoked to scan, capture,and/or transmit the QR code 202, and a different program/app of theclient device 104 can be invoked to obtain and/or render the digitalcontent 702. In some aspects, the client profile 504 can indicate thatthe second program/application is a preferred program/application (e.g.,can indicate that the user of the client device 104 prefers to havedigital content rendered via the second program/application, rather thanvia the first program/application).

In various embodiments, the electronic records (that are associated withthe merchant 304 and that are leveraged by the content component 118 toidentify the digital content 702) can correspond to a particularprogram/application that is electronically stored on the client device104. For example, in some cases, the electronic records can be stored ina database that is associated with and/or accessible to the PayPal® app.As another example, the electronic records can be stored in a databasethat is associated with and/or accessible to the Venmo® app. In variousinstances, the client device 104 can scan and/or transmit the QR code202 via a first program/application of the client device 104, theadaptable QR code system 102 can analyze electronic records of themerchant 304 that are stored in a database associated with the firstprogram/application, and the digital content 702 can be provided toand/or rendered by the first program/application of the client device104. In various other instances, however, the client device 104 can scanand/or transmit the QR code 202 via a first program/application of theclient device 104, the adaptable QR code system 102 can analyzeelectronic records of the merchant 304 that are stored in a databaseassociated with a second program/application, and the digital content702 can be provided to and/or rendered by the first program/applicationof the client device 104. For example, in various cases, the clientdevice 104 can utilize the Venmo® app to scan the QR code 202, totransmit the QR code 202, the client identifier 204, and/or the locationindicator 206 to the receiver component 112, and/or to render thedigital content 702. In such case, however, the adaptable QR code system102 can utilize databases that are associated with and/or accessible tothe PayPal® app, not the Venmo® app, to identify the digital content702. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anyother suitable multitenant and/or cross-application architecture can beimplemented in various embodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 1100 including checking an activation statusof a QR code in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein. In other words, FIG. 11 illustrates how the identificationand/or provision of customized digital content to a client device can becontrolled and/or gate-kept based on an activation status (e.g., activevs. inactive) of a QR code scanned by the client device.

In various embodiments, act 802 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively coupled to a processor, a QR code (e.g., 202), aclient ID (e.g., 204), and/or a location indicator (e.g., 206) from aclient device (e.g., 104).

In various aspects, act 804 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 114), a merchant (e.g., 304) based on the location indicatorand/or the QR code.

In various instances, act 1102 can include determining, by the device(e.g., 114), whether the merchant has set the QR code to an activestate. In various cases, any suitable electronic records associated withthe merchant can indicate an activation status established by themerchant for the QR code. Accordingly, the activation status of the QRcode can be determined by querying such electronic records. If themerchant has specified that the QR code is currently in an active state,the computer-implemented method 1100 can proceed to act 806. On theother hand, if the merchant has specified that the QR code is currentlyin an inactive state, the computer-implemented method 1100 can proceedto act 1104.

In various embodiments, acts 806-810 can be as described above. That is,act 806 can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 116), a clientprofile (e.g., 504) based on the client ID; act 808 can includeidentifying, by the device (e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702)based on the merchant and the client profile; and act 810 can includecausing, by the device (e.g., 120), the digital content to be providedto the client device.

In various instances, act 1104 can include transmitting, by the device(e.g., 120), an electronic message to a computing device (e.g., 1002) ofthe merchant, where the electronic message can prompt the merchant toactivate the QR code. In various cases, the computer-implemented method1100 can proceed back to act 1102.

In other words, the computer-implemented method 1100 illustrates thatcustomized digital content can be identified and/or provided to a clientdevice, if the merchant whose QR code was scanned by the client devicehas specified that the QR code is currently activated. Conversely, thecustomized digital content can be not identified and/or can be notprovided to the client device, if the merchant whose QR code was scannedby the client device has specified that the QR code is currently notactivated. In such case, the merchant can be prompted and/or requestedto activate the QR code, so that customized digital content canthereafter be identified and/or provided.

FIG. 12 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 1200 including a fraud component that can facilitatefraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.As shown, the system 1200 can, in some cases, comprise the samecomponents as the system 700, and can further comprise a fraud component1202. Note that, for sake of space, not all previously-discussedcomponents and/or numerals are depicted in FIG. 12 .

In various embodiments, the fraud component 1202 can electronicallystore and/or maintain authentication data, which authentication data canbe leveraged to determine whether the QR code 202 was permissiblyscanned/captured by the client device 104 and/or impermissiblyscanned/captured by the client device 104. In some cases, suchauthentication data can include sound signature data, time frame data,and/or visible surround environment data. In any case, the receivercomponent 112 can electronically receive supplemental data from theclient device 104, and the fraud component 1202 can electronicallycompare such supplemental data with the authentication data. If thesupplemental data matches and/or corresponds to the authentication data,the fraud component 1202 can electronically determine and/or infer thatthe client device 104 permissibly scanned/captured the QR code 202(e.g., scanned/captured an image of an authentic version of the merchantsignage 106). On the other hand, if the supplement data does not matchand/or correspond to the authentication data, the fraud component 1202can electronically determine and/or infer that the client device 104impermissibly scanned/captured the QR code 202 (e.g., scanned/capturedan image of a non-authentic version of the merchant signage 106).

FIG. 13 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 1300 including sound data and a sound signature thatfacilitates fraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launchcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. As shown, the system 1300 can, in some cases, comprisethe same components as the system 1200, and can further comprise sounddata 1302 and/or a sound signature 1304.

In various instances, the merchant signage 106 can be configured toemit, from an electronic speaker, an audible and/or inaudible sound inconjunction with visually displaying the QR code 202. In variousaspects, such audible and/or inaudible sound can be considered as and/orcan be described by the sound signature 1304. That is, the soundsignature 1304 can be any suitable data that indicates a sound emittedby the merchant signage 106.

In various embodiments, the client device 104 can comprise a microphonesensor and/or any other suitable sound-capturing equipment. In variouscases, the client device 104 can thus capture sound data 1302. Invarious aspects, the sound data 1302 can be any suitable data thatindicates an ambient sound that is and/or was detectable by the clientdevice 104 when the client device 104 scanned the QR code 202 and/orwhen the client device 104 transmitted the QR code 202.

In other words, the sound signature 1304 can represent a sound that isexpected to be captured by the client device 104, and the sound data1302 can represent a sound that is actually captured by the clientdevice 104.

In various cases, the fraud component 1202 can compare the sound data1302 with the sound signature 1304. If the sound data 1302 matches, isconsistent with, corresponds to, and/or is otherwise within any suitablethreshold margin of error of the sound signature 1304, the fraudcomponent 1202 can determine and/or infer that the client device 104permissibly scanned the QR code 202. In such case, the content component118 can identify the digital content 702 and/or the transmittercomponent 120 can provide the digital content 702 to the client device104. On the other hand, if the sound data 1302 does not match, is notconsistent with, does not correspond to, and/or is otherwise outside ofany suitable threshold margin of error of the sound signature 1304, thefraud component 1202 can determine and/or infer that the client device104 impermissibly scanned the QR code 202. In such case, the contentcomponent 118 can refrain from identifying the digital content 702and/or the transmitter component 120 can refrain from providing thedigital content 702 to the client device 104.

To help illustrate this, suppose that the merchant signage 106 isauthentic and/or non-fraudulent. In such case, the merchant signage 106can emit a sound that corresponds to the sound signature 1304,simultaneously as the merchant signage 106 displays the QR code 202. Invarious instances, the client device 104 can scan/capture the QR code202. At the time that the client device 104 scans/captures the QR code202, the client device 104 can also record/capture the sound emitted bythe merchant signage 106. Such recorded/captured sound can be consideredas the sound data 1302. Because the merchant signage 106 is this exampleis authentic and/or non-fraudulent, the sound data 1302 can match and/orbe consistent with the sound signature 1304. Accordingly, the fraudcomponent 1202 can determine/infer that the client device 104permissibly scanned the QR code 202. In contrast, suppose that themerchant signage 106 is inauthentic and/or fraudulent. In such case, themerchant signage 106 can fail to emit a sound that corresponds to thesound signature 1304, simultaneously as the merchant signage 106displays the QR code 202. In various instances, the client device 104can scan/capture the QR code 202. At the time that the client device 104scans/captures the QR code 202, the client device 104 can alsorecord/capture ambient sounds that are detectable by the client device104. Such recorded/captured ambient sounds can be considered as thesound data 1302. Because the merchant signage 106 is this example isinauthentic and/or fraudulent, the sound data 1302 can fail to matchand/or be consistent with the sound signature 1304. Accordingly, thefraud component 1202 can determine/infer that the client device 104impermissibly scanned the QR code 202. In this way, the sound data 1302and/or the sound signature 1304 can be leveraged to ferret outfraudulently-scanned QR codes.

In some embodiments, the merchant signage 106 can be not configured toemit an audible and/or inaudible sound in conjunction with visuallydisplaying the QR code 202. Instead, the merchant signage 106 caninclude and/or can otherwise be associated with any suitable microphonesensor (not shown) that can capture ambient sounds that occur aroundand/or near the merchant signage 106 at the time at which the clientdevice 104 scans and/or transmits the QR code 202. In such case, theambient sound captured by the microphone sensor associated with themerchant signage 106 can be considered as the sound signature 1304.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 1400 that can facilitate sound-based fraudprevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In variouscases, the computer-implemented method 1400 can be facilitated by theadaptable QR code system 102.

In various embodiments, act 1402 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively coupled to a processor, a QR code (e.g., 202), aclient ID (e.g., 204), a location indicator (e.g., 206), and/or sounddata (e.g., 1302) from a client device (e.g., 104). In various cases, asexplained herein, the client device can capture and/or record an ambientsound at the time of scanning and/or transmitting of the QR code, andsuch ambient sound can be used to determine whether the QR code waspermissibly and/or impermissibly scanned.

In various aspects, act 1404 can include determining, by the device(e.g., 1202), whether the sound data corresponds to (e.g., is within anysuitable threshold margin of) a known sound signature (e.g., 1304)associated with the QR code. If not, the computer-implemented method1400 can proceed to act 1406. If so, the computer-implemented method1400 can proceed to act 804.

In various instances, act 1406 can include ending thecomputer-implemented method 1400.

In various aspects, acts 804-810 can be as described above. That is, act804 can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 114), a merchant(e.g., 304) based on the location indicator and/or the QR code; act 806can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 116), a client profile(e.g., 504) based on the client ID; act 808 can include identifying, bythe device (e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on themerchant and the client profile; and act 810 can include causing, by thedevice (e.g., 120), the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice.

FIG. 15 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 1500 including a timestamp and a time frame that canfacilitate fraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launchcustomized experiences in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. As shown, the system 1500 can, in some cases, comprisethe same components as the system 1300, and can further comprisetimestamp 1502 and/or a time frame 1504.

In various instances, the merchant signage 106 can be configured todisplay different QR codes at different times (e.g., a first QR code ata first time of day, a second QR code at a second time of day).Accordingly, the merchant signage 106 can be configured to display theQR code 202 only for a particular period of time. In various cases, suchparticular period of time can be the time frame 1504.

In various embodiments, the client device 104 can comprise an electronicclock and/or any other suitable time-keeping equipment. In variouscases, the client device 104 can thus capture a timestamp 1502. Invarious aspects, the timestamp 1502 can be any suitable data thatindicates a time at which the client device 104 scanned the QR code 202and/or at which the client device 104 transmitted the QR code 202.

In other words, the time frame 1504 can represent a time interval inwhich the client device 104 is expected to scan/capture the QR code 202,and the timestamp 1502 can represent a time at which the QR code 202 isactually scanned/captured by the client device 104.

In various cases, the fraud component 1202 can compare the timestamp1502 with the time frame 1504. If the timestamp 1502 is consistent with,corresponds to, and/or is otherwise within the time frame 1504, thefraud component 1202 can determine and/or infer that the client device104 permissibly scanned the QR code 202. In such case, the contentcomponent 118 can identify the digital content 702 and/or thetransmitter component 120 can provide the digital content 702 to theclient device 104. On the other hand, if the timestamp 1502 is notconsistent with, does not correspond to, and/or is otherwise outside ofthe time frame 1504, the fraud component 1202 can determine and/or inferthat the client device 104 impermissibly scanned the QR code 202. Insuch case, the content component 118 can refrain from identifying thedigital content 702 and/or the transmitter component 120 can refrainfrom providing the digital content 702 to the client device 104.

To help illustrate this, suppose that the merchant signage 106 isauthentic and/or non-fraudulent. In such case, the merchant signage 106can visually display the QR code 202 during the time frame 1504. Invarious instances, the client device 104 can scan/capture the QR code202 as it is displayed by the merchant signage 106. At the time that theclient device 104 scans/captures the QR code 202, the client device 104can also record/capture the time at which such scanning/capturingoccurs. Such recorded/captured time can be considered as the timestamp1502. Because the merchant signage 106 is this example is authenticand/or non-fraudulent, the timestamp 1502 can be within and/orconsistent with the time frame 1504. Accordingly, the fraud component1202 can determine/infer that the client device 104 permissibly scannedthe QR code 202. In contrast, suppose that the merchant signage 106 isinauthentic and/or fraudulent. In such case, the merchant signage 106can visually display the QR code 202 outside of the time frame 1504. Invarious instances, the client device 104 can scan/capture the QR code202 as it is displayed by the merchant signage 106. At the time that theclient device 104 scans/captures the QR code 202, the client device 104can also record/capture the time at which such scanning/capturingoccurs. Such recorded/captured time can be considered as the timestamp1502. Because the merchant signage 106 is this example is inauthenticand/or fraudulent, the timestamp 1502 can be outside of and/or notconsistent with the time frame 1504. Accordingly, the fraud component1202 can determine/infer that the client device 104 impermissiblyscanned the QR code 202. In this way, the timestamp 1502 and/or the timeframe 1504 can be leveraged to ferret out fraudulently-scanned QR codes.

In some embodiments, the time frame 1504 can be provided and/oridentified by the merchant signage 106 and/or by any suitable computingdevice (not shown) that is associated with the merchant signage 106. Forinstance, the merchant signage 106 and/or the computing deviceassociated with the merchant signage 106 can keep track of which QRcodes are rendered/displayed by the merchant signage 106 during whichtime intervals. Accordingly, the merchant signage 106 and/or thecomputing device associated with the merchant signage 106 can provide,indicate, and/or otherwise identify a time interval during which the QRcode 202 is rendered/displayed by the merchant signage 106. Such timeinterval can be considered as the time frame 1504.

FIG. 16 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 1600 that can facilitate time-based fraudprevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In variouscases, the computer-implemented method 1600 can be facilitated by theadaptable QR code system 102.

In various embodiments, act 1602 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively coupled to a processor, a QR code (e.g., 202), aclient ID (e.g., 204), a location indicator (e.g., 206), and/or atimestamp (e.g., 1502) from a client device (e.g., 104). In variouscases, as explained herein, the client device can capture and/or recordthe time at which the client device scans and/or transmits the QR code,and such time can be used to determine whether the QR code waspermissibly and/or impermissibly scanned.

In various aspects, act 1604 can include determining, by the device(e.g., 1202), whether the timestamp corresponds to (e.g., is within) aknown time frame (e.g., 1504) associated with the QR code. If not, thecomputer-implemented method 1600 can proceed to act 1606. If so, thecomputer-implemented method 1600 can proceed to act 804.

In various instances, act 1606 can include ending thecomputer-implemented method 1600.

In various aspects, acts 804-810 can be as described above. That is, act804 can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 114), a merchant(e.g., 304) based on the location indicator and/or the QR code; act 806can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 116), a client profile(e.g., 504) based on the client ID; act 808 can include identifying, bythe device (e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on themerchant and the client profile; and act 810 can include causing, by thedevice (e.g., 120), the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice.

FIG. 17 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 1700 including a surrounding environment and a knownsurrounding environment that can facilitate fraud prevention foradaptable QR codes that launch customized experiences in accordance withone or more embodiments described herein. As shown, the system 1700 can,in some cases, comprise the same components as the system 1500, and canfurther comprise a surrounding environment 1702 and/or a knownsurrounding environment 1704.

In various instances, the merchant signage 106 can be configured todisplay the QR code 202 with a distinctive surrounding environment. Forinstance, the merchant signage 106 can include a distinctive symbolaround and/or near the QR code, can include a distinctive bezel thatcircumscribes the QR code, and/or can be affixed and/or adjacent to adistinctive structure/object (e.g., distinctive wall and/or shelf). Invarious cases, the known surrounding environment 1704 can be anysuitable data that indicates and/or describes the distinctivesurrounding environment of the merchant signage 106.

In various embodiments, the client device 104 can scan and/or capturethe QR code 202 by capturing an image and/or video of the merchantsignage 106 as the merchant signage 106 displays the QR code 202. Invarious cases, the receiver component 112 can analyze, via any suitablemachine vision techniques, a periphery of the image and/or video, so asto identify objects and/or structures that are depicted in the imageand/or video as being physically around and/or near the QR code 202. Invarious cases, the surrounding environment 1702 can be any suitable datathat indicates and/or describes such objects and/or structures.

In other words, the known surrounding environment 1704 can represent oneor more objects/structures which the client device 104 is expected toscan/capture in conjunction with the QR code 202, and the surroundingenvironment 1702 can represent one or more objects/structures which theclient device 104 actually scans/captures in conjunction with the QRcode 202.

In various cases, the fraud component 1202 can compare the surroundingenvironment 1702 with the known surrounding environment 1704. If thesurrounding environment 1702 is identical to, consistent with,corresponds to, and/or is otherwise within any suitable threshold marginof error of the known surrounding environment 1704, the fraud component1202 can determine and/or infer that the client device 104 permissiblyscanned the QR code 202. In such case, the content component 118 canidentify the digital content 702 and/or the transmitter component 120can provide the digital content 702 to the client device 104. On theother hand, if the surrounding environment 1702 is not identical to, notconsistent with, does not correspond to, and/or is otherwise outside ofany suitable threshold margin of error of the known surroundingenvironment 1704, the fraud component 1202 can determine and/or inferthat the client device 104 impermissibly scanned the QR code 202. Insuch case, the content component 118 can refrain from identifying thedigital content 702 and/or the transmitter component 120 can refrainfrom providing the digital content 702 to the client device 104.

To help illustrate this, suppose that the merchant signage 106 isauthentic and/or non-fraudulent. In such case, the merchant signage 106can visually display the QR code 202 with distinctive surroundingobjects/structures that correspond to the known surrounding environment1704. In various instances, the client device 104 can scan/capture theQR code 202 as it is displayed by the merchant signage 106. At the timethat the client device 104 scans/captures the QR code 202, the clientdevice 104 can also scan/capture any surrounding objects/structures thatare near the QR code 202. Such surrounding objects/structures can beconsidered as the surrounding environment 1702. Because the merchantsignage 106 is this example is authentic and/or non-fraudulent, thesurrounding environment 1702 can match and/or correspond to the knownsurrounding environment 1704. Accordingly, the fraud component 1202 candetermine/infer that the client device 104 permissibly scanned the QRcode 202. In contrast, suppose that the merchant signage 106 isinauthentic and/or fraudulent. In such case, the merchant signage 106can visually display the QR code 202 with surrounding objects/structuresthat do not correspond to the known surrounding environment 1704. Invarious instances, the client device 104 can scan/capture the QR code202 as it is displayed by the merchant signage 106. At the time that theclient device 104 scans/captures the QR code 202, the client device 104can also scan/capture any surrounding objects/structures that are nearthe QR code 202. Such surrounding objects/structures can be consideredas the surrounding environment 1702. Because the merchant signage 106 isthis example is inauthentic and/or fraudulent, the surroundingenvironment 1702 can fail to match and/or fail to correspond to theknown surrounding environment 1704. In this way, the surroundingenvironment 1702 and/or the known surrounding environment 1704 can beleveraged to ferret out fraudulently-scanned QR codes.

FIG. 18 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 1800 that an facilitate surrounding-basedfraud prevention for adaptable QR codes that launch customizedexperiences in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.In various cases, the computer-implemented method 1800 can befacilitated by the adaptable QR code system 102.

In various embodiments, act 1802 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively coupled to a processor, an image and/or video ofa QR code (e.g., 202), a client ID (e.g., 204), and/or a locationindicator (e.g., 206) from a client device (e.g., 104).

In various instances, act 1804 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 112), a surrounding environment (e.g., 1702) of the QR code basedon the image and/or video of the QR code. In various cases, as explainedherein, the periphery of the image and/or video can display one or moreobjects, symbols, and/or structures that are depicted as surroundingand/or otherwise being near the QR code, and such objects, symbols,and/or structures can be used to determine whether the QR code waspermissibly and/or impermissibly scanned.

In various aspects, act 1806 can include determining, by the device(e.g., 1202), whether the surrounding environment corresponds to (e.g.,matches) a known surrounding environment (e.g., 1704) associated withthe QR code. If not, the computer-implemented method 1800 can proceed toact 1808. If so, the computer-implemented method 1800 can proceed to act804.

In various instances, act 1806 can include ending thecomputer-implemented method 1800.

In various aspects, acts 804-810 can be as described above. That is, act804 can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 114), a merchant(e.g., 304) based on the location indicator and/or the QR code; act 806can include identifying, by the device (e.g., 116), a client profile(e.g., 504) based on the client ID; act 808 can include identifying, bythe device (e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on themerchant and the client profile; and act 810 can include causing, by thedevice (e.g., 120), the digital content to be provided to the clientdevice.

FIG. 19 illustrates a high-level block diagram of an example,non-limiting system 1900 including a social media account and additionalclient devices that can facilitate adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences with connected users in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

As described herein, the client device 104 can scan the QR code 202displayed by the merchant signage 106, and the adaptable QR code system102 can provide the digital content 702 to the client device 104. Invarious other cases, however, the adaptable QR code system 102 canprovide the digital content to one or more other client devices 1904.

In various embodiments, the client profile 504 can indicate and/orotherwise identify the one or more other client devices 1904. In variousother embodiments, however, the client component 116 can electronicallyidentify a social media account 1902 based on the client profile 504,and the client component 116 can electronically analyze the social mediaaccount 1902 so as to identify the one or more other client devices1904. This is explained in more detail with respect to FIG. 20 .

FIG. 20 illustrates a high-level block diagram showing how a socialmedia account can be used to identify additional client devices inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. That is, FIG.20 depicts how the client component 116 can leverage the social mediaaccount 1902 to identify the one or more other client devices 1904.

In various aspects, as explained herein, the client profile 504 canindicate attributes and/or characteristics of the user of the clientdevice 104. In various cases, the user of the client device 104 can bedenoted as a user 2002. Thus, the client profile 504 (and/or the clientidentifier 204) can indicate the identity of the user 2002. In variouscases, the user 2002 can own, operate, and/or otherwise be associatedwith the social media account 1902. For example, the social mediaaccount 1902 can be a Facebook® account, a Twitter® account, and/or anInstagram® account of the user 2002.

In various instances, the client component 116 can analyze the socialmedia account 1902, via any suitable techniques, so as to identify oneor more other social media accounts 2004 that are connected to, linkedto, and/or otherwise correlated with the social media account 1902. Invarious cases, the one or more other social media accounts 2004 caninclude any suitable number of other social media accounts (e.g., socialmedia account 1 to social media account y, for any suitable positiveinteger y). As shown, the one or more other social media accounts 2004can be respectively correlated with one or more other users 2006 (e.g.,the social media account 1 can be owned by, operated by, and/orotherwise associated with the user 1, and the social media account y canbe owned by, operated by, and/or otherwise associated with the user y).As also shown, the one or more other users 2006 can respectivelycorrelated with the one or more other client devices 1904 (e.g., theclient device 1 can be owned by, operated by, and/or otherwiseassociated with the user 1, and the client device y can be owned by,operated by, and/or otherwise associated with the user y). Accordingly,if a given social media account from the one or more other social mediaaccounts 2004 is identified, a user corresponding to that given socialmedia account can likewise be identified, and a client devicecorresponding to that user can also be identified. In various cases,because the social media account 1902 can be considered as beingcorrelated with the one or more other social media accounts 2004, theuser 2002 can likewise be considered as being correlated with the one ormore other users 2006.

In various aspects, the client component 116 can determine that thesocial media account 1902 is connected to, linked to, and/or otherwisecorrelated with the one or more other social media accounts 2004, if thesocial media account 1902 is listed as “social media friends” with theone or more other social media accounts 2004. For example, suppose thatthe user 2002 has a Facebook® account, and suppose that the user 2002 isFacebook® friends with a user J but not with a user K. Accordingly, theFacebook® account of the user 2002 can be considered as corresponding tothe Facebook® account of the user J, and can be considered as notcorresponding to the Facebook® account of the user K. Thus, the user2002 can likewise be considered as corresponding to the user J and notcorresponding to the user K.

In various instances, the client component 116 can determine that thesocial media account 1902 is connected to, linked to, and/or otherwisecorrelated with the one or more other social media accounts 2004, if thesocial media account 1902 has tagged and/or messaged the one or moreother social media accounts 2004 within any suitable past period oftime. For example, suppose that the user 2002 has a Facebook® account,and suppose that the user 2002 tagged, within the past week, a user L ina Facebook® post but did not tag, within the past week, a user M in aFacebook® post. Accordingly, the Facebook® account of the user 2002 canbe considered as corresponding to the Facebook® account of the user L,and can be considered as not corresponding to the Facebook® account ofthe user M. Thus, the user 2002 can likewise be considered ascorresponding to the user L and not corresponding to the user M.

In various cases, the client component 116 can determine that the socialmedia account 1902 is connected to, linked to, and/or otherwisecorrelated with the one or more other social media accounts 2004, if theone or more other social media accounts 2004 have interacted with a postof the social media account 1902 within any suitable past period oftime. For example, suppose that the user 2002 has a Facebook® account,and suppose that a user N has liked and/or shared, within the past 10days, a Facebook® post made by the user 2002, while a user O has notliked and/or shared, within the past 10 days, a Facebook® post made bythe user 2002. Accordingly, the Facebook® account of the user 2002 canbe considered as corresponding to the Facebook® account of the user N,and can be considered as not corresponding to the Facebook® account ofthe user O. Thus, the user 2002 can likewise be considered ascorresponding to the user N and not corresponding to the user O.

In various aspects, the client component 116 can identify the socialmedia account 1902 based on the client profile 504 (e.g., the clientprofile 504 can indicate characteristics and/or an identify of the user2002, and the user 2002 can own and/or operate the social media account1902). Accordingly, the client component 116 can identify the one ormore other social media accounts 2004 that are correlated in anysuitable fashion with the social media account 1902 (e.g., the one ormore other social media accounts 2004 can have interacted with and/orcan be friends with the social media account 1902). Thus, the clientcomponent 116 can identify the one or more other users 2006 thatrespectively own/operate the one or more other social media accounts2004. Accordingly, the client component 116 can identify the one or moreother client devices 1904 that are respectively owned and/or operated bythe one or more other users 2006.

Although the herein discussion mainly describes that the clientcomponent 116 can identify the one or more other client devices 1904based on the social media account 1902, this is a mere non-limitingexample. In some cases, any other suitable profile/account that isassociated with a different platform than the client profile 504 can beimplemented, whether or not the any other suitable profile/account is asocial media account. For example, in some cases, the client profile 504can be a PayPal® profile, and the any other suitable profile/account canbe a Facebook® account, a Twitter® account, an Instagram® account, aVenmo® account, a Slack® account, a Teams® account, a Skype® account,and/or a Zoom® account. In any case, as long as the any other suitableprofile/account is hosted on a different platform than the clientprofile 504, the any other suitable profile/account can be analyzed asdescribed above to identify one or more other users (e.g., 2006) thatare correlated with the user of the client device 104, and thus toidentify the one or more other client devices 1904.

Once the one or more other users 2006 and/or the one or more otherclient devices 1904 are identified, the content component 118 canidentify the digital content 702 based on any suitable informationassociated with the one or more other users 2006. For example, in somecases, the content component 118 can identify the digital content 702based on financial instruments used by the one or more other users 2006,based on product/service preferences of the one or more other users2006, based on transaction histories of the one or more other users2006, based on electronic shopping carts of the one or more other users2006, and/or based on demographics of the one or more other users 2006.Moreover, in various instances, the transmitter component 120 canelectronically cause the digital content 702 to be provided to the oneor more other client devices 1904. In various cases, the one or moreother client devices 1904 can accordingly render the digital content702, such that the digital content 702 is viewable by the one or moreother users 2006. In other words, the client device 104 can scan the QRcode 202, and any advertisements, coupons, discounts, and/or rewardpoints that are identified by the content component 118 can be sharedwith the one or more other client devices 1904.

In some cases, the transmitter component 120 can transmit, as part ofthe digital content 702, any suitable subset of the client profile 504to the one or more other client devices 1904. That is, in variousaspects, the one or more other users 2006 can be granted access to thefinancial instruments of the user 2002, can be granted access to theproduct/service preferences of the user 2002, can be granted access tothe transaction histories of the user 2002, and/or can be granted accessto the electronic shopping carts of the user 2002. In various cases, theone or more other users 2006 can be allowed to utilize and/or charge thefinancial instruments of the user 2002. In various instances, theelectronic shopping carts of the user 2002 can be combined with one ormore electronic shopping carts of the one or more other users 2006.

In various embodiments, the transmitter component 120 can cause thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904, based on determining that the one or more other clientdevices 1904 are within any suitable threshold distance of the clientdevice 104. In other words, just as the client device 104 canelectronically transmit the location indicator 206 to the receivercomponent 112, the one or more other client devices 1904 canrespectively transmit one or more other location indicators to thereceiver component 112. In various aspects, the receiver component 112can electronically compare the location indicator 206 with the one ormore other location indicators. If the receiver component 112 determinesthat the one or more other location indicators are within any suitablethreshold margin of the location indicator 206, the transmittercomponent 120 can cause the digital content 702 to be provided to theone or more other client devices 1904. In contrast, if the receivercomponent 112 determines that the one or more other location indicatorsare not within any suitable threshold margin of the location indicator206, the transmitter component 120 can refrain from causing the digitalcontent 702 to be provided to the one or more other client devices 1904.In such cases, the one or more other client devices 1904 can be providedwith the digital content 702 only when the one or more other clientdevices 1904 are sufficiently physically near the client device 104.

In various other embodiments, the transmitter component 120 can causethe digital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904, based on determining that the one or more other clientdevices 1904 are within any suitable threshold distance of a locationassociated with the merchant 304. Again, just as the client device 104can electronically transmit the location indicator 206 to the receivercomponent 112, the one or more other client devices 1904 canrespectively transmit one or more other location indicators to thereceiver component 112. In various aspects, the receiver component 112can electronically compare the one or more other location indicators toa location that is known to be associated with the merchant 304 (e.g., alocation at which the merchant 304 has a store, a location at which themerchant 304 otherwise does business, any other suitable locationdesignated by the merchant 304). If the receiver component 112determines that the one or more other location indicators are within anysuitable threshold margin of the location that is known to be associatedwith the merchant 304, the transmitter component 120 can cause thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904. In contrast, if the receiver component 112 determines thatthe one or more other location indicators are not within any suitablethreshold margin of the location that is known to be associated with themerchant 304, the transmitter component 120 can refrain from causing thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904. In such cases, the one or more other client devices 1904can be provided with the digital content 702 only when the one or moreother client devices 1904 are sufficiently physically near the locationthat is known to be associated with the merchant 304.

In still other embodiments, the transmitter component 120 can cause thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904, based on determining that the one or more other clientdevices 1904 have performed a specified computing action within aspecified time period. In some cases, such specified computing actioncan include interacting with a webpage that is associated with themerchant 304. For example, the transmitter component 120 can cause thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904, based on determining that the one or more other clientdevices 1904 have electronically visited and/or browsed the webpage ofthe merchant 304 within any suitable time period. In other cases, suchspecified computing action can include providing contact information tothe merchant 304. For instance, the transmitter component 120 can causethe digital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904, based on determining that the one or more other clientdevices 1904 have electronically transmitted, to a computing deviceassociated with the merchant 304, phone numbers and/or email addressesrespectively corresponding to the one or more other users 2006 withinany suitable time period. In still other cases, such specified computingaction can include subscribing to receive emails from the merchant 304.For example, the transmitter component 120 can cause the digital content702 to be provided to the one or more other client devices 1904, basedon determining that the one or more other client devices 1904 haveelectronically transmitted indications of consent to receive emailadvertisements from a computing device associated with the merchant 304.In any case, if the adaptable QR code system 102 determines that the oneor more other client devices 1904 have performed the specified computingaction during the specified time period, the transmitter component 120can cause the digital content 702 to be provided to the one or moreother client devices 1904. In contrast, if the adaptable QR code system102 determines that the one or more other client devices 1904 have notperformed the specified computing action during the specified timeperiod, the transmitter component 120 can refrain from causing thedigital content 702 to be provided to the one or more other clientdevices 1904.

FIG. 21 illustrates a flow diagram of an example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented method 2100 that an facilitate adaptable QR codesfor customized experiences with connected users in accordance with oneor more embodiments described herein. In various cases, thecomputer-implemented method 2100 can be facilitated by the adaptable QRcode system 102.

In various embodiments, act 2102 can include receiving, by a device(e.g., 112) operatively couple to a processor, a QR code (e.g., 202), afirst client ID (e.g., 204), and/or a first location indicator (e.g.,206) from a first client device (e.g., 104).

In various aspects, act 2104 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 114), a merchant (e.g., 304) based on the first locationindicator and/or the QR code.

In various instances, act 2106 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116), a first client profile (e.g., 504) of a first user (e.g.,2002) based on the first client ID.

In various aspects, act 2108 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116), one or more second users (e.g., 2006) that are connected tothe first user, by analyzing a social media account (e.g., 1902) of thefirst user. In various cases, the one or more second users can be socialmedia friends with the first user, can have been tagged on social mediaby the first user, and/or can have interacted with social media postsmade by the first user.

In various instances, act 2110 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on the merchant, thefirst client profile, and/or data associated with the one or more secondusers (e.g., product/service preferences of the one or more secondusers, transaction histories of the one or more second users).

In various aspects, act 2112 can include causing, by the device (e.g.,120), the digital content to be provided to the first client deviceand/or to one or more second client devices (e.g., 1904) that areassociated with the one or more second users. In various cases, this candepend upon the one or more second client devices being within anysuitable threshold vicinity of the first client device.

FIG. 22 illustrates a communication diagram of an example, non-limitingworkflow 2200 that can facilitate adaptable QR codes for customizedexperiences with connected users in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein.

In various embodiments, the merchant signage 106 can visually displaythe QR code 202 to the client device 104. Accordingly, at act 2202, theclient device 104 can electronically scan and/or capture the QR code202.

In various instances, the client device 104 can, at act 2204,electronically transmit the QR code 202 to the adaptable QR code system102. In various cases, the client device 104 can also, at act 2204,determine and electronically transmit the client identifier 204 and thelocation indicator 206 to the adaptable QR code system 102.

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2206,electronically identify the merchant 304 based on the location indicator206 and/or the QR code 202 (e.g., by leveraging the merchant repository302).

In various instances, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2208,electronically identify the client profile 504 based on the clientidentifier 204 (e.g., by leveraging the client profile repository 502).

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2210,electronically identify the one or more other users 2006 that arecorrelated with the user of the client device 104. In various cases,this can be facilitated by analyzing the social media account 1902 ofthe user of the client device 104. Accordingly, the adaptable QR codesystem 102 can, also at act 2210, identify the one or more other clientdevices 1904.

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2212,electronically identify the digital content 702 based on the merchant304, the client profile 504, and/or data associated with the one or moreother users 2006 (e.g., by using the client profile 504 and/or analogousclient profiles of the one or more other users 2006 to filter and/orsort through electronic records that specify the inventory, promotions,and/or reward plans of the merchant 304). Accordingly, the digitalcontent 702 can be considered as being customized to the user of theclient device 104 and/or to the one or more other users 2006.

In various instances, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2214,electronically transmit the digital content 702 to the client device104.

In various aspects, the adaptable QR code system 102 can, at act 2216,electronically transmit the digital content 702 to the one or more otherclient devices 1904.

FIGS. 23-24 illustrate flow diagrams of example, non-limitingcomputer-implemented methods 2300-2400 that can facilitate adaptable QRcodes for customized experiences in accordance with one or moreembodiments described herein. In various cases, the computer-implementedmethods 2300-2400 can be implemented by the adaptable QR code system102.

First, consider the computer-implemented method 2300. In variousembodiments, act 2302 can include receiving, by a device (e.g., 112)operatively coupled to a processor and from a customer device (e.g.,104), a quick response (QR) code (e.g., 202), a customer identifier(e.g., 204), and/or geolocation information (e.g., 206) associated withthe customer device.

In various instances, act 2304 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 114) and from a plurality of vendors (e.g., 406), a first vendor(e.g., 304) that corresponds to the QR code, based on identifying thatthe first vendor corresponds to the geolocation information.

In various aspects, act 2306 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116) and from a plurality of customer profiles (e.g., 604), afirst customer profile (e.g., 504), that corresponds to the customeridentifier.

In various instances, act 2308 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 118), electronic content (e.g., 702) based on the first vendorand/or the first customer profile.

In various aspects, act 2310 can include causing, by the device (e.g.,120), the electronic content to be provided to the customer device.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the electronic content caninclude: an advertisement or a recommendation for a product or servicebased on a current inventory of the first vendor or based on product orservice preferences (e.g., 608 indicated by the first customer profile;or an amount of reward points earned from the first vendor based on atransaction history (e.g., 610) indicated by the first customer profile.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the computer-implementedmethod 2300 can further comprise: analyzing, by the device (e.g., 114),an electronic record associated with the first vendor to determine ifthe QR code is in an active state; in response to determining that theQR code is in an active state, identifying, by the device (e.g., 118),the electronic content; and in response to determining that the QR codeis in an inactive state, transmitting, by the device (e.g., 120), anelectronic message to a computing device (e.g., 1002) associated withthe first vendor, wherein the electronic message prompts the firstvendor to activate the QR code.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the QR code can be receivedvia a first program (e.g., Venmo® app) of the customer device, and theelectronic content can be provided via a second program (e.g., PayPal®app) of the customer device.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the electronic content can beprovided via the second program (e.g., PayPal® app) based on determiningthat the second program is a preferred program of a user of the customerdevice.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the computer-implementedmethod 2300 can further comprise: analyzing, by the device (e.g., 118),a database corresponding to a second program (e.g., PayPal® app) toidentify the first vendor, the first customer profile, and theelectronic content, wherein the electronic content is provided via thefirst program (e.g., Venmo® app) of the customer device.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 23 , the computer-implementedmethod 2300 can further comprise: receiving, by the device (e.g., 112),sound information (e.g., 1302) from the customer device; identifying, bythe device (e.g., 1202), a sound signature (e.g., 1304) that correspondsto the QR code; and comparing, by the device (e.g., 1202), the soundinformation with the sound signature, wherein the causing the electroniccontent to be provided to the customer device is based on determiningthat the sound information corresponds to the sound signature.

Now, consider the computer-implemented method 2400. In variousembodiments, act 2402 can include receiving, by a device (e.g., 112)operatively coupled to a processor and from a first client device (e.g.,104), a quick response (QR) code (e.g., 202), a first client identifier(e.g., 204), and/or a first location indicator (e.g., 206) associatedwith the first client device.

In various aspects, act 2404 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 114) and from a plurality of merchants (e.g., 406), a firstmerchant (e.g., 304) that corresponds to the QR code, based onidentifying that the first merchant corresponds to the first locationindicator.

In various instances, act 2406 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116) and from a plurality of client profiles (e.g., 604), a firstclient profile (e.g., 504) of a first user (e.g., 2002) that correspondsto the first client identifier.

In various aspects, act 2408 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 116), one or more second users (e.g., 2006) that correspond tothe first user.

In various instances, act 2410 can include identifying, by the device(e.g., 118), digital content (e.g., 702) based on the first merchant,the first client profile, and/or information corresponding to the one ormore second users.

In various aspects, act 2412 can include causing, by the device (e.g.,120), the digital content to be provided to the first client deviceand/or one or more second client devices (e.g., 1904) corresponding tothe one or more second users.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 24 , the identifying the one ormore second users that correspond to the first user can comprise:analyzing, by the device (e.g., 116), a second client profile (e.g.,1902) associated with the first user, wherein the second client profilecorresponds to a first platform (e.g., Facebook®, Twitter®, Instagram®)that is different than a second platform (e.g., PayPal®) associated withthe first client profile; and identifying, by the device (e.g., 116),the one or more second users based on determining that one or moreclient profiles corresponding to the one or more second users andcorresponding to the first platform are connected to the second clientprofile of the first user. In some cases, the second client profile canbe social media profile.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 24 , the identifying the one ormore second users that correspond to the first user can comprise:determining, by the device (e.g., 116) that one or more client profiles(e.g., 2004) associated with the one or more second users are connectedto the first client profile.

Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 24 , the computer-implementedmethod 2400 can further comprise: receiving, by the device (e.g., 112)one or more second location indicators from the one or more secondclient devices; and comparing, by the device (e.g., 112), the firstlocation indicator with the one or more second location indicators,wherein the causing the digital content to be provided to the one ormore second client devices is based on determining that the one or moresecond location indicators are within a threshold distance of the firstlocation indicator.

In various instances, machine learning algorithms and/or models can beimplemented in any suitable way to facilitate any suitable aspectsdescribed herein. That is, the receiver component 112 can implement anysuitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions, the merchant component 114 can implement anysuitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions, the client component 116 can implement anysuitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions, the content component 118 can implement anysuitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions, the transmitter component 120 can implementany suitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions, and/or the fraud component 1202 can implementany suitable artificial intelligence algorithms to perform itsabove-described functions.

To facilitate some of the above-described machine learning aspects ofvarious embodiments of the subject innovation, consider the followingdiscussion of artificial intelligence (AI). Various embodiments of thepresent innovation herein can employ artificial intelligence tofacilitate automating one or more features of the present innovation.The components can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying outvarious embodiments/examples disclosed herein. In order to provide foror aid in the numerous determinations (e.g., determine, ascertain,infer, calculate, predict, prognose, estimate, derive, forecast, detect,compute) of the present innovation, components of the present innovationcan examine the entirety or a subset of the data to which it is grantedaccess and can provide for reasoning about or determine states of thesystem and/or environment from a set of observations as captured viaevents and/or data. Determinations can be employed to identify aspecific context or action, or can generate a probability distributionover states, for example. The determinations can be probabilistic; thatis, the computation of a probability distribution over states ofinterest based on a consideration of data and events. Determinations canalso refer to techniques employed for composing higher-level events froma set of events and/or data.

Such determinations can result in the construction of new events oractions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whetheror not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, andwhether the events and data come from one or several event and datasources. Components disclosed herein can employ various classification(explicitly trained (e.g., via training data) as well as implicitlytrained (e.g., via observing behavior, preferences, historicalinformation, receiving extrinsic information, and so on)) schemes and/orsystems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expert systems,Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines, and so on)in connection with performing automatic and/or determined action inconnection with the claimed subject matter. Thus, classification schemesand/or systems can be used to automatically learn and perform a numberof functions, actions, and/or determinations.

A classifier can map an input attribute vector, z=(z₁, z₂, z₃, z₄,z_(n)), to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, as byf(z)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determinate an action to be automaticallyperformed. A support vector machine (SVM) can be an example of aclassifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding ahyper-surface in the space of possible inputs, where the hyper-surfaceattempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggeringevents. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testingdata that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directedand undirected model classification approaches include, e.g., naïveBayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logicmodels, and/or probabilistic classification models providing differentpatterns of independence, any of which can be employed. Classificationas used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that isutilized to develop models of priority.

In order to provide additional context for various embodiments describedherein, FIG. 25 and the following discussion are intended to provide abrief, general description of a suitable computing environment 2500 inwhich the various embodiments of the embodiment described herein can beimplemented. While the embodiments have been described above in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions that can run on oneor more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that theembodiments can be also implemented in combination with other programmodules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, Internet of Things (IoT)devices, distributed computing systems, as well as personal computers,hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operativelycoupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media, machine-readable storage media,and/or communications media, which two terms are used herein differentlyfrom one another as follows. Computer-readable storage media ormachine-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media or machine-readablestorage media can be implemented in connection with any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer-readable ormachine-readable instructions, program modules, structured data orunstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD) or other optical disk storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, solid state drives or other solid statestorage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitory media which canbe used to store desired information. In this regard, the terms“tangible” or “non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information deliveryor transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refersto a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changedin such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By wayof example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 25 , the example environment 2500 forimplementing various embodiments of the aspects described hereinincludes a computer 2502, the computer 2502 including a processing unit2504, a system memory 2506 and a system bus 2508. The system bus 2508couples system components including, but not limited to, the systemmemory 2506 to the processing unit 2504. The processing unit 2504 can beany of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessorsand other multi processor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 2504.

The system bus 2508 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 2506includes ROM 2510 and RAM 2512. A basic input/output system (BIOS) canbe stored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routinesthat help to transfer information between elements within the computer2502, such as during startup. The RAM 2512 can also include a high-speedRAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 2502 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)2514 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), one or more external storage devices 2516(e.g., a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 2516, a memory stick or flashdrive reader, a memory card reader, etc.) and a drive 2520, e.g., suchas a solid state drive, an optical disk drive, which can read or writefrom a disk 2522, such as a CD-ROM disc, a DVD, a BD, etc.Alternatively, where a solid state drive is involved, disk 2522 wouldnot be included, unless separate. While the internal HDD 2514 isillustrated as located within the computer 2502, the internal HDD 2514can also be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (notshown). Additionally, while not shown in environment 2500, a solid statedrive (SSD) could be used in addition to, or in place of, an HDD 2514.The HDD 2514, external storage device(s) 2516 and drive 2520 can beconnected to the system bus 2508 by an HDD interface 2524, an externalstorage interface 2526 and a drive interface 2528, respectively. Theinterface 2524 for external drive implementations can include at leastone or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Otherexternal drive connection technologies are within contemplation of theembodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 2502, the drives andstorage media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digitalformat. Although the description of computer-readable storage mediaabove refers to respective types of storage devices, it should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of storagemedia which are readable by a computer, whether presently existing ordeveloped in the future, could also be used in the example operatingenvironment, and further, that any such storage media can containcomputer-executable instructions for performing the methods describedherein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 2512,including an operating system 2530, one or more application programs2532, other program modules 2534 and program data 2536. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 2512. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

Computer 2502 can optionally comprise emulation technologies. Forexample, a hypervisor (not shown) or other intermediary can emulate ahardware environment for operating system 2530, and the emulatedhardware can optionally be different from the hardware illustrated inFIG. 25 . In such an embodiment, operating system 2530 can comprise onevirtual machine (VM) of multiple VMs hosted at computer 2502.Furthermore, operating system 2530 can provide runtime environments,such as the Java runtime environment or the .NET framework, forapplications 2532. Runtime environments are consistent executionenvironments that allow applications 2532 to run on any operating systemthat includes the runtime environment. Similarly, operating system 2530can support containers, and applications 2532 can be in the form ofcontainers, which are lightweight, standalone, executable packages ofsoftware that include, e.g., code, runtime, system tools, systemlibraries and settings for an application.

Further, computer 2502 can be enable with a security module, such as atrusted processing module (TPM). For instance with a TPM, bootcomponents hash next in time boot components, and wait for a match ofresults to secured values, before loading a next boot component. Thisprocess can take place at any layer in the code execution stack ofcomputer 2502, e.g., applied at the application execution level or atthe operating system (OS) kernel level, thereby enabling security at anylevel of code execution.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 2502 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 2538, a touchscreen 2540, and a pointing device, such as a mouse 2542. Other inputdevices (not shown) can include a microphone, an infrared (IR) remotecontrol, a radio frequency (RF) remote control, or other remote control,a joystick, a virtual reality controller and/or virtual reality headset,a game pad, a stylus pen, an image input device, e.g., camera(s), agesture sensor input device, a vision movement sensor input device, anemotion or facial detection device, a biometric input device, e.g.,fingerprint or iris scanner, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 2504 through an input deviceinterface 2544 that can be coupled to the system bus 2508, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, a BLUETOOTH®interface, etc.

A monitor 2546 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 2508 via an interface, such as a video adapter 2548. Inaddition to the monitor 2546, a computer typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 2502 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 2550. The remotecomputer(s) 2550 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer2502, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device2552 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted includewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 2554 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 2556. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 2502 can beconnected to the local network 2554 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 2558. The adapter 2558 canfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 2554, which canalso include a wireless access point (AP) disposed thereon forcommunicating with the adapter 2558 in a wireless mode.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 2502 can includea modem 2560 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN2556 via other means for establishing communications over the WAN 2556,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 2560, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 2508 via the input device interface 2544. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 2502 orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device2552. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexample and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

When used in either a LAN or WAN networking environment, the computer2502 can access cloud storage systems or other network-based storagesystems in addition to, or in place of, external storage devices 2516 asdescribed above, such as but not limited to a network virtual machineproviding one or more aspects of storage or processing of information.Generally, a connection between the computer 2502 and a cloud storagesystem can be established over a LAN 2554 or WAN 2556 e.g., by theadapter 2558 or modem 2560, respectively. Upon connecting the computer2502 to an associated cloud storage system, the external storageinterface 2526 can, with the aid of the adapter 2558 and/or modem 2560,manage storage provided by the cloud storage system as it would othertypes of external storage. For instance, the external storage interface2526 can be configured to provide access to cloud storage sources as ifthose sources were physically connected to the computer 2502.

The computer 2502 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, store shelf, etc.), and telephone. This can include WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of a sample computing environment2600 with which the disclosed subject matter can interact. The samplecomputing environment 2600 includes one or more client(s) 2610. Theclient(s) 2610 can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads,processes, computing devices). The sample computing environment 2600also includes one or more server(s) 2630. The server(s) 2630 can also behardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices).The servers 2630 can house threads to perform transformations byemploying one or more embodiments as described herein, for example. Onepossible communication between a client 2610 and a server 2630 can be inthe form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or morecomputer processes. The sample computing environment 2600 includes acommunication framework 2650 that can be employed to facilitatecommunications between the client(s) 2610 and the server(s) 2630. Theclient(s) 2610 are operably connected to one or more client datastore(s) 2620 that can be employed to store information local to theclient(s) 2610. Similarly, the server(s) 2630 are operably connected toone or more server data store(s) 2640 that can be employed to storeinformation local to the servers 2630.

The present invention may be a system, a method, an apparatus and/or acomputer program product at any possible technical detail level ofintegration. The computer program product can include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention. The computer readable storage medium can be atangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by aninstruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium canbe, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, amagnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagneticstorage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specificexamples of the computer readable storage medium can also include thefollowing: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory(SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanicallyencoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groovehaving instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, isnot to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radiowaves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagneticwaves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device. Computer readable programinstructions for carrying out operations of the present invention can beassembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions,machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode,firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data forintegrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written inany combination of one or more programming languages, including anobject oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or thelike, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programminglanguage or similar programming languages. The computer readable programinstructions can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on theuser's computer, as a standalone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection can be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments,electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logiccircuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logicarrays (PLA) can execute the computer readable program instructions byutilizing state information of the computer readable programinstructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order toperform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions. These computer readable programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be storedin a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, aprogrammable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage mediumhaving instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Thecomputer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational acts to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successioncan, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks cansometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program product thatruns on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art willrecognize that this disclosure also can or can be implemented incombination with other program modules. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theinventive computer-implemented methods can be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframecomputers, as well as computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA,phone), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrialelectronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practicedin distributed computing environments in which tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. However, some, if not all aspects of this disclosure can bepracticed on standalone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules can be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “interface,” and the like, can refer to and/or can include acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In another example, respective components can execute fromvarious computer readable media having various data structures storedthereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remoteprocesses such as in accordance with a signal having one or more datapackets (e.g., data from one component interacting with anothercomponent in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a networksuch as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionalityprovided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electroniccircuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware applicationexecuted by a processor. In such a case, the processor can be internalor external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts, wherein the electroniccomponents can include a processor or other means to execute software orfirmware that confers at least in part the functionality of theelectronic components. In an aspect, a component can emulate anelectronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., within a cloudcomputing system.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example”and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance,or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matterdisclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, anyaspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplarystructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As it is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Further, processors can exploit nano-scalearchitectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dotbased transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usageor enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units. In thisdisclosure, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component areutilized to refer to “memory components,” entities embodied in a“memory,” or components comprising a memory. It is to be appreciatedthat memory and/or memory components described herein can be eithervolatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM(PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM(EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g.,ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory can include RAM, which canact as external cache memory, for example. By way of illustration andnot limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM),direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), andRambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memorycomponents of systems or computer-implemented methods herein areintended to include, without being limited to including, these and anyother suitable types of memory.

What has been described above include mere examples of systems andcomputer-implemented methods. It is, of course, not possible to describeevery conceivable combination of components or computer-implementedmethods for purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinaryskill in the art can recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of this disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extentthat the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used inthe detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

The descriptions of the various embodiments have been presented forpurposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variationswill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminologyused herein was chosen to best explain the principles of theembodiments, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mobile device system comprising: anon-transitory memory; and one or more hardware processors coupled tothe non-transitory memory and configured to read instructions from thenon-transitory memory to cause the mobile device system to performoperations comprising: capturing, by an image capturing device of themobile device system, a graphical code; identifying, by an applicationrunning on the mobile device system, one or more merchants based on atleast one of the graphical code or location information of the mobiledevice system, wherein the location information is usable to identifythe one or more merchants by disambiguating different merchants sharinga same graphical code and having different corresponding locations; andrendering, by the application, based on the identified one or moremerchants and based on an identifier of a client account being operatedon the mobile device system, digital content for display on the mobiledevice system.
 2. The mobile device system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more merchants are identifiable from a plurality of merchants in amerchant repository.
 3. The mobile device system of claim 1, wherein theclient account identifier is usable to identify one of a plurality ofclient profiles stored in a client profile repository.
 4. The mobiledevice system of claim 3, wherein the digital content is rendered basedon the identified one or more merchants and the identified one of theplurality of client profiles.
 5. The mobile device system of claim 1,wherein the digital content includes at least one of an advertisementfor a product or service sold by the one or more merchants or a rewardsprogram associated with the one or more merchants.
 6. The mobile devicesystem of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: capturing,by the image capturing device of the mobile device system, peripheryimages of the mobile device system; and determining, based on thecaptured periphery images, that the graphical code was properlycaptured, wherein the one or more merchants are identified in responseto determining that the graphical code was properly captured.
 7. Themobile device system of claim 1, wherein the graphical code is a quickresponse (QR) code.
 8. A method, comprising: capturing, by an imagecapturing device of a mobile device, a graphical code; identifying, by afirst application running on the mobile device, one or more merchantsbased on at least one of the graphical code or location information ofthe mobile device; transmitting from the first application theidentified one or more merchants, the location information of the mobiledevice, and an identifier of a client account operating on the mobiledevice to a second application different from the first applicationrunning on the mobile device; and rendering, by the second applicationbased on the identified one or more merchants and based on theidentifier of the client account being operated on the mobile device,digital content for display on the mobile device.
 9. The method of claim8, further comprising determining that the second application is apreferred application on the mobile device, wherein the identified oneor more merchants, the location information of the mobile device, andthe identifier of the client account operating on the mobile device aretransmitted from the first application to the second application basedon determining that the second application is the preferred applicationon the mobile device.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the locationinformation is usable by the second application to identify the one ormore merchants by disambiguating different merchants sharing a samegraphical code and having different corresponding locations.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the one or more merchants are identifiableby the second application from a plurality of merchants in a merchantrepository.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the client accountidentifier is usable by the second application to identify one of aplurality of client profiles stored in a client profile repository. 13.The method of claim 12, wherein the digital content is rendered based onthe identified one or more merchants and the identified one of theplurality of client profiles.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein thedigital content includes at least one of an advertisement for a productor service sold by the one or more merchants or a rewards programassociated with the one or more merchants.
 15. The method of claim 8,wherein the graphical code is a quick response (QR) code.
 16. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereonmachine-readable instructions to cause a machine to perform operationscomprising: capturing, by an image capturing device of a mobile device,a graphical code; identifying, by an application running on the mobiledevice, one or more merchants based on at least one of the graphicalcode or location information of the mobile device, wherein the locationinformation is usable to identify the one or more merchants bydisambiguating different merchants sharing a same graphical code, andwherein the one or more merchants are identifiable from a plurality ofmerchants in a merchant repositor; rendering, by the application, basedon the identified one or more merchants and based on an identifier ofclient account being operated on the mobile device, digital content fordisplay on the mobile device.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 16, wherein the client account identifier is usable toidentify one of a plurality of client profiles stored in a clientprofile repository, and wherein the digital content is rendered based onthe identified one or more merchants and the identified one of theplurality of client profiles.
 18. The non-transitory machine-readablemedium of claim 16, wherein the digital content includes at least one ofan advertisement for a product or service sold by the one or moremerchants or a rewards program associated with the one or moremerchants.